Hereditary, Genetic & Developmental Aspects of Nephrology

BIOGRAPHY

Martin Pollak

Academic positions:
- Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Director of the Laboratory of Inherited Kidney Disease, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Any industry positions (last five years):
None declared

Research interests:
Dr Pollak is interested in the biology of the cytoskeletal protein alpha-actinin-4, originally identified by means of a screen for breast cancer-specific antigens. His research has demonstrated a role for the encoded protein in kidney function. His group are generating alpha-actinin-4 mutant mice which we expect to analyze in the next several months for alterations in cell growth and structure as well as kidney function.

They also have a second interest in the biology of the extracellular calcium receptor (CaR), shown to have a fundamental role in extracellular calcium homeostasis. Hypercalcemia is one of the most common complications of advanced malignancies, and the CaR pathway may be an important mediator (and therapeutic target) of the hypercalcemia of cancer. They have recently developed a viable calcium-receptor deficient mouse which will allow them to address some of these issues.

Any other information: