Xuefei Tian, MD

My research is centered on glomerular diseases, with particular emphasis on proteinuric disorders, which represent a major pathogenic driver of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a leading cause of progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Despite the significant clinical burden, current therapeutic options remain insufficient due to the complexity and heterogeneity of these conditions.

I focus on dissecting the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying glomerular injury, with an emphasis on the biological functions of podocytes and parietal epithelial cells—the two principal intrinsic cell types critically involved in glomerular pathogenesis. My work aims to elucidate how dysregulation of these cells contributes to disease initiation and progression, and to identify novel therapeutic targets that may attenuate or halt the trajectory of proteinuric glomerulopathies.

To address these questions, I integrate diverse methodologies, including cellular and molecular biology, pathology, bioinformatics, and bioengineering-based approaches, to advance mechanistic understanding and therapeutic discovery in glomerular disease.