Justin Belcher, MD, PhD, FASN
Associate Professor of Medicine (Nephrology)Cards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Kidney Tubule Secretion Can Discriminate the Cause of Acute Kidney Injury in Cirrhosis.
Puthumana J, Belcher J, Garcia-Tsao G, Sanyal A, Seegmiller J, Garimella P, Parikh C, Ix J. Kidney Tubule Secretion Can Discriminate the Cause of Acute Kidney Injury in Cirrhosis. Clinical Journal Of The American Society Of Nephrology 2025 PMID: 40956621, DOI: 10.2215/cjn.0000000814.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcute kidney injuryAcute tubular necrosisHepatorenal syndromePrerenal azotemiaSecretion scoreTubular secretionKidney injuryDifferential diagnosisDifferential diagnosis of acute kidney injuryBaseline estimated glomerular filtration rateHospitalized patientsUrine-to-plasma ratiosDiagnosis of acute kidney injuryEnd stage liver diseaseTertiary care centerGlomerular filtration rateProximal tubular secretionStage liver diseaseAssociated with lower oddsPrognostic implicationsSevere complicationsClinical characteristicsTubular injuryUrine specimensTubular necrosisTo Stay or to Fold: Biomarkers and the Management of Potentially Hemodynamic Acute Kidney Injury
Belcher J. To Stay or to Fold: Biomarkers and the Management of Potentially Hemodynamic Acute Kidney Injury. American Journal Of Kidney Diseases 2025, 86: 143-145. PMID: 40504055, DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.04.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPredicting the Use of Dialysis for Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Cirrhosis—Does Diagnosis Matter?
Belcher J. Predicting the Use of Dialysis for Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Cirrhosis—Does Diagnosis Matter? Digestive Diseases And Sciences 2025, 70: 2926-2928. PMID: 40471496, DOI: 10.1007/s10620-025-09143-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOS-038-YI Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of acute kidney injury in patients with decompensated cirrhosis: an individual patient data meta-analysis
Moreta M, Juanola A, Allegretti A, Piano S, Belcher J, Yewale R, Jaques D, Robinson J, Ouyang T, Gambino C, Huelin P, Ariza X, Angeli P, Parikh C, Ramakrishna B, Ponte B, Ginès P. OS-038-YI Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of acute kidney injury in patients with decompensated cirrhosis: an individual patient data meta-analysis. Journal Of Hepatology 2025, 82: s32-s33. DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(25)00353-8.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Cirrhosis and Chronic Kidney Disease: Results From the HRS-HARMONY Consortium
St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Ouyang T, Patidar K, Belcher J, Cullaro G, Regner K, Chung R, Ufere N, Velez J, Neyra J, Asrani S, Wadei H, Teixeira J, Saly D, Levitsky J, Orman E, Sawinski D, Dageforde L, Allegretti A, Consortium H. Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Cirrhosis and Chronic Kidney Disease: Results From the HRS-HARMONY Consortium. Clinical Gastroenterology And Hepatology 2024, 23: 1755-1765.e4. PMID: 39675402, PMCID: PMC12163100, DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2024.10.023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcute kidney injuryChronic kidney diseaseLiver function parametersKidney diseaseKidney injuryAssociated with lower 90-day mortalityRates of intensive care unit admissionLiver diseaseAlcohol-associated liver diseaseIntensive care unit admissionMELD-Na scoreRenal replacement therapyShort-term outcomesFunction parametersComparison of outcomesPeak creatinineAdmission creatinineTransplant listing statusReplacement therapyUnit admissionPrimary outcomeCirrhosisMetabolic dysfunctionHospitalized patientsPatientsHepatorenal Syndrome-AKI Reversal and Liver Transplant Rates in Patients Treated with Terlipressin
Belcher J, Regner K, Subramanian R, Mujtaba M, Allegretti A, Cardoza S, Wadei H. Hepatorenal Syndrome-AKI Reversal and Liver Transplant Rates in Patients Treated with Terlipressin. Journal Of The American Society Of Nephrology 2024, 35: 10.1681/asn.2024934zvv6h. DOI: 10.1681/asn.2024934zvv6h.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAssociation of Hepatorenal Syndrome-Acute Kidney Injury with Mortality in Patients with Cirrhosis Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy
Cama-Olivares A, Ouyang T, Takeuchi T, St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Chung R, Cullaro G, Karvellas C, Levitsky J, Orman E, Patidar K, Regner K, Saly D, Sawinski D, Sharma P, Teixeira J, Ufere N, Velez J, Wadei H, Wahid N, Allegretti A, Neyra J, Belcher J, Cama-Olivares A, Ouyang T, Takeuchi T, St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Chung R, Cullaro G, Karvellas C, Levitsky J, Orman E, Patidar K, Regner K, Saly D, Sawinski D, Sharma P, Teixeira J, Ufere N, Velez J, Wadei H, Wahid N, Allegretti A, Neyra J, Belcher J. Association of Hepatorenal Syndrome-Acute Kidney Injury with Mortality in Patients with Cirrhosis Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy. Kidney360 2024, 6: 247-256. PMID: 39348201, PMCID: PMC11882256, DOI: 10.34067/kid.0000000589.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEtiology of AKIHRS-AKIAKI-RRTRenal replacement therapyContinuous RRTIntermittent hemodialysisAdult patientsHospitalized patientsAKI etiologyReplacement therapyAssociated with increased 90-day mortalityMulticenter retrospective cohort studyNon-HRS-AKIAssociated with increased mortalityConsecutive adult patientsRetrospective cohort studyHospital network systemHepatorenal syndromeContemporary cohortInpatient populationMechanical ventilationRRT modalityCohort studyClinical variablesPrimary outcomeImpact of acute kidney injury response on survival and liver transplant rates in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation: Results from the HRS-HARMONY consortium
Li X, Ouyang T, Belcher J, Patidar K, Cullaro G, Asrani S, Wadei H, Simonetto D, Regner K, Dageforde L, Przybyszewski E, Wilechansky R, Sharma P, Ufere N, Duarte-Rojo A, Wahid N, Orman E, St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Chung R, Allegretti A, collaborative I. Impact of acute kidney injury response on survival and liver transplant rates in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation: Results from the HRS-HARMONY consortium. Liver Transplantation 2024, 30: 1106-1115. PMID: 39073567, DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000445.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAKI responseAcute kidney injuryTransplant-free survivalLiver transplantationLT ratesCirrhosis patientsNon-respondersTime of liver transplantationCourse of hospitalized patientsNo responseRetrospective multicenter studyMELD-Na scoreResponse to therapyResponse to treatmentLiver transplant ratesRate of LTOverall survivalMulticenter studyKidney injuryCirrhosis etiologyCirrhosisHospitalized patientsTransplantationPatientsInjury responseOutcomes of patients with alcohol‐associated hepatitis and acute kidney injury – Results from the HRS Harmony Consortium
T. A, Allegretti A, Cullaro G, Ouyang T, Asrani S, Chung R, Przybyszewski E, Wilechansky R, Robinson J, Sharma P, Simonetto D, Jalal P, Orman E, Wadei H, St. Hillien S, Saly D, Ufere N, Dageforde L, Regner K, Belcher J, Patidar K, Consortium F. Outcomes of patients with alcohol‐associated hepatitis and acute kidney injury – Results from the HRS Harmony Consortium. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2024, 60: 778-786. PMID: 39010302, PMCID: PMC11349455, DOI: 10.1111/apt.18159.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAlcohol-associated hepatitisAcute kidney injuryAcute kidney injury phenotypesHepatorenal syndromeMELD-NaDevelopment of acute kidney injuryCumulative incidence of deathConsecutive adult patientsOutcomes of patientsAlcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAANon-AH groupRenal replacement therapyPresence of AHAcute tubular necrosisRetrospective cohort studyPredictors of mortalityIncidence of deathAKI stageClinical courseReplacement therapyAdult patientsKidney injuryCumulative incidencePoor prognosisTubular necrosisUse of Terlipressin in AKI Associated with Hepatorenal Syndrome: PRO
Belcher J. Use of Terlipressin in AKI Associated with Hepatorenal Syndrome: PRO. Kidney360 2024, 5: 791-794. PMID: 38526157, PMCID: PMC11219105, DOI: 10.34067/kid.0000000000000341.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Justin Belcher, MD, PhD, is a nephrologist who cares for people with a range of kidney-related conditions, including sudden loss of kidney function (due to acute kidney injury), chronic kidney disease (which develops over time), and disorders affecting the balance of acids, bases, and electrolytes. He also manages complex cases that require close monitoring in critical care settings.
As an associate professor of medicine (nephrology) at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Belcher studies how new biological indicators can improve the diagnosis and treatment of kidney injury in people with cirrhosis. He is also dedicated to teaching and mentoring students, residents, and fellows.
Dr. Belcher received his medical training at Drexel University College of Medicine. He completed his residency, chief residency, and fellowship in nephrology, and earned a doctoral degree from Yale School of Medicine.