Message from Dr. Darren Bridgewater

Welcome to the Bridgewater Lab!

Did you know chronic kidney disease is a major health concern affecting 10% of the global population and 20% of those 65 years of age and older? In Canada alone, over three million people are affected. The origins of kidney disease are multifactorial and involve the complex interplay between many factors that affect kidney formation, nephron formation and patterning and the number of nephrons allotted at birth. Even subtle abnormalities in nephron formation and patterning can contribute to childhood and adult-onset kidney disease.

The Bridgewater Lab is focused on developmental nephrology. Over the past eight years, our work has led to the discovery of Shroom3, an actin-associated protein involved in kidney development, disease and repair. Our lab uses cell culture, genetically altered mouse models of disease and molecular biology techniques, such as immunofluorescence, Western Blots, transcriptomics and proteomics. Our goal is to contribute foundational knowledge to better understand:

1. Mechanisms of nephron patterning
2. Intracellular mechanisms and binding partners of Shroom3
3. Why and how alterations in Shroom3 expression and function contribute to abnormal nephron formation and function