Dan Carlson

Equity Interest - Non-publicly traded entity ( e.g., stock, stock option, or other ownership interest)

Mayo Translational PKD Center (MTPC)

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) affects up to 12 million individuals and is the 4th most common cause for renal replacement therapy worldwide. Basic and translational research on PKD has increased exponentially in the last three decades, particularly after the discovery of the PKD1 and PKD2 genes in 1994 and 1996. Nevertheless, no proven effective therapy exists for this disease at the present time. The mission of the Mayo Translational PKD Center (MTPC) is to foster PKD research and the translation of basic research breakthroughs into improvements in clinical practice with the ultimate goal to reduce or eliminate the disease burden of PKD. Therefore, the leadership of the center chose three Biomedical Research Cores after thoughtful analysis of the services that would be most effective in achieving this goal. The Molecular Genetics and Biomarker Core uses genetic approaches to advance the understanding of disease pathogenesis and characterizes PKD populations to facilitate clinical trials. The Model Systems Core empowers PKD research through access to PKD C. elegans, zebrafish and rodent models, their biological characterization, and their use in identifying new therapeutics. The Human Imaging Core provides accurate, reliable analysis of imaging data and develops enhanced methodologies to facilitate the assessment of disease progression and the outcome of therapies in ADPKD. The Pilot and Feasibility Program attracts new investigators to PKD research, helps them to launch novel PKD focused projects, thus sustaining and expanding the Center Membership. The research capacity of the MTPC is enhanced by a vigorous Scientific Enrichment Program that promotes synergy among its members and and by partnering with Institutional Facilities and other Mayo and non-Mayo NIH funded Centers. In the first four years of their existence, the three MTPC Biomedical Research Cores have provided services to many PKD investigators and made important conceptual and technological advances. Research conducted by MTPC investigators has already led to clinical trials with encouraging results.