Human in vitro models and assays for nephrotoxicity prediction

Kidney toxicity is a frequent adverse effect observed in xenobiotic exposure. Unlike the liver, the kidney has a low regenerative capacity and the functional units (nephrons), when lost, are not replaced. Thus, any compound that causes nephrotoxicity has the potential to accelerate chronic renal disease. The challenge is to model the nephrotoxic potential of compounds in humans. Here I will discuss these challenges and our approaches including the use of human cell models, mitochondrial respiration, and stress response pathway activation.

Speaker: Paul Jennings 

Paul Jennings is the chair of the Division of Molecular and Computational Toxicology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His background is in epithelial and renal biology, in vitro cell culture system development, and mechanistic toxicology. Paul hails from Dublin Ireland. He did his BSc and Ph.D. at University College Dublin. He then moved to Innsbruck, Austria working with Prof. Walter Pfaller. In 2009 Paul habilitated in Epithelial Physiology (Venia Docendi).