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John Forrest Jr, MD

Professor Emeritus of Medicine
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Additional Titles

Director, Office of Student Research

About

Titles

Professor Emeritus of Medicine

Director, Office of Student Research

Biography

In Memoriam: 1938–2024

Dr. John N. Forrest, Jr., MD, was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and came to Yale as one of Dr. Paul Beeson's last interns in Internal Medicine in 1964. He was a Professor of Medicine (Nephrology) and the Director of the Office of Student Research at Yale School of Medicine. He was a graduate of Ursinus College (1960) which awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Science degree (Sc.D Hon) in 2001. Dr. Forrest had a broad interest in aspects of basic and clinical nephrology. His laboratory's major efforts were the study of mechanisms of lithium induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, the study of water metabolism and acid-base regulation by the kidney, and the study of hormonal signal transduction and potassium and chloride channels in the salt gland of the dogfish shark, an ancient model of the thick ascending limb of the kidney. He was a member of the ASN, ASCI, AAP, AHA and ACCA and also was a past president of the Interurban Clinical Club. From 1998 until 2009, he was the Director of the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL) in Bar Harbor Maine where he had been an active investigator for 46 years. As Director of the Office of Student Research, he began the combined MD-MHS (Masters of Health Sciences), the IPE (Intensive Pedagogical Experience) at MDIBL and the START@Yale program for first year medical students.

Appointments

Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Fellow
Yale-New Haven Hospital (1971)
Chief Resident
Yale-New Haven Hospital (1970)
Resident
Yale-New Haven Hospital (1967)
Fellow
Yale School of Medicine and VA Hospital (1967)
MD
University of Pennsylvania (1964)

Board Certifications

  • Internal Medicine

    Certification Organization
    AB of Internal Medicine
    Original Certification Date
    1973

Research

Overview

In the common genetic disease, cystic fibrosis, mutations in a transmembrane chloride channel the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator or CFTR) are responsible for clinical manifestations in many organs (lung, pancreas, GI tract). The most common mutation (delta F 508) results in defective trafficking of the protein to the cell membrane. Agents that reverse this abnormality or that increase the driving force for chloride secretion have the potential to treat this disease.

We are studying the structure, function and regulation of CFTR and other chloride channels in several sodium chloride secreting epithelia, including mammalian airway cells, the kidney and the shark salt gland. Specific projects include:

  1. Regulation of CFTR trafficking from ER to cell membrane
  2. Defining the role of SNARE proteins and VAMP in the trafficking defect and possible reversal of the CF phenotype
  3. Identification of the role of CFTR in the human renal disease, adult polycystic kidney disease
  4. K2P Role of K2P potassium channels in chloride secreting epithelia.

We are also carrying out physiological, molecular and structural studies of novel G protein coupled receptors and natriuretic peptide receptors involved in the regulation of chloride transport in marine models. This work is done both at Yale and at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. Students will learn molecular techniques of cloning, sequencing, expression, site specific mutagenesis and will couple these techniques to structural (confocal microscopy using GFP constructs, protein purification and crystallography) and electrophysical measurements.Dr. Forrest is also carrying out clinical studies in fluid and electrolyte disorders, including lithium inducted diabetes insipidus, lithium intoxication, and hyponatremia.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Chloride Channels; Cystic Fibrosis; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; Kidney; Nephrology; Sharks; SNARE Proteins

Research at a Glance

Publications Timeline

A big-picture view of John Forrest's research output by year.

Publications

2016

2009

2006

2005

1991

1990

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • honor

    Elected to American Clinical and Climatological Society

  • honor

    Honorary Doctor of Science degree

  • honor

    elected to American Society for Clinical Investigation

  • honor

    Elected to Association of American Physicians

Get In Touch

Contacts

Academic Office Number

Administrative Support

Locations

  • E.S. Harkness Memorial Hall

    Academic Office

    367 Cedar Street, Ste Suite 308

    New Haven, CT 06510