Department of Internal Medicine
Nephrology Faculty
Medical School:
University of Madras at Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
Residency:
District General Hospital, Sunderland, UK
Royal Hallamshire and Northern General Hospitals, University of Sheffield, UK
Fellowship:
Case Western Reserve University
Christie P. Thomas, M.D.
Professor, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology
The research in Dr. Thomas' lab is focused on the regulation of amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel. This channel mediates aldosterone responsive sodium reabsorption in the collecting ducts and is mutated in certain forms of genetic hypertension and in salt-wasting syndromes. Dr. Thomas has defined the molecular structure of the human channel subunit genes. He is evaluating the mechanisms that regulate expression of these genes and sgk1 and Nedd4-2, two proteins that control the activity of the epithelial sodium channel. Understanding regulatory mechanisms involved in sodium transport pathways should provide new approaches in the diagnosis and therapy of patients with hypertension. Dr. Thomas also has a research interest in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, a uniquely human disorder of pregnancy characterized by proteinuria and hypertension. He is investigating the biogenesis and the function of soluble Flt1, a circulating inhibitor of angiogenesis that has been implicated in the development of preeclampsia. His work is supported by the NIH and the VA. He has a joint appointment as a faculty member in Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program.
Dr. Thomas' clinical interests are in renal transplantation and in genetic disorders of the kidney with a special focus on Fabry’s disease, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and cystic kidney disease. Together with Dr. Nester and Dr. Smith, he runs a rare renal diseases clinic. He is the medical director of the Kidney and Kidney Pancreas Transplant Program at the University of Iowa Organ Transplant Center. He is the former director of the Iowa Medical Student Research Program
Links of Interest
Honors, Awards, and Organizations
- Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine & Subspecialty Board in Nephrology
- American College of Physicians, Fellow
- American Heart Association, Fellow
- American Society of Nephrology, Fellow
- Royal College of Physicians, UK, Fellow
- Established Investigator, American Heart Association, 2000-2004
- Career Investigator, American Lung Association, 2000-2003
- Board of Directors, Iowa Donor Network
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- Board of Directors, Heartland kidney network
- Chair, UNOS Living Donor Committee
- Member, UNOS Living Donor Committee
- Editorial Board, Kidney International
- Editorial Board, American Journal of Physiology