ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

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ASN / About /

Rasheed A. Gbadegesin, MD, MBBS, FASN, Councilor

Dr Gbadegesin is the Wilburt C. Davison Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Professor in Medicine at the Duke University, Durham, NC. He is the Associate Dean for Physician Scientist Development and the Director of the Office of Physician Scientist Development. Dr Gbadegesin's research is focused on understanding the molecular pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome, and the biologic basis for disparity in its incidence, and therapy response. Nephrotic syndrome and other chronic kidney diseases has profound life-long consequences on a growing child and the therapy resistant type is a leading cause of mortality World-Wide. In the last fifteen years, Dr Gbadegesin and his team have identified at least ten new genetic causes and genetic risk factors for nephrotic syndrome and other chronic kidney diseases. In addition, he and his collaborators have continued to characterize the mechanisms by which these genes can cause nephrotic syndrome, and recently identified biomarkers of disease, and druggable pathways that may treat these genetic defects and the more common idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Dr Gbadegesin has created a robust bio-repository for childhood nephrotic syndrome by World-Wide collaboration and networking, and he is also playing leadership role in National and International networks that are unraveling the genetic basis for excess of chronic kidney diseases in people of African ancestry. His original findings and ongoing collaborations have significantly illuminated our understanding of the genetic architecture of nephrotic syndrome and have become foundational for ongoing meaningful and potentially transformative breakthrough in disease etiology, prevention, and treatment.

Current Position/Titles:

Wilburt C. Davison Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Professor in Medicine Duke University School of Medicine

Associate Dean for Physician Scientist development Duke University School of Medicine

Degrees/Training:

MBBS, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan Nigeria, 1987

M.D., University of Manchester, United Kingdom, 2001

Pediatric Residency: University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria, New York Presbyterian Hospital at Brooklyn Hospital, New York

Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Motts Children’s Hospital)

Research/Post-Doc Training: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

ASN Service:

Abstract Selection Committee Member, 2009 to date, Program Committee Annual Meeting member, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024; Co-Chair Program Committee 2024; ASN Glomerular Disease Advisory Committee 2024 to date; ASN DEI Committee 2025 to date; Editorial Board member JASN 2018 to date, CJASN 2024 to date, Kidney 360 2024 to date

Leadership positions:

American Society of Pediatric Nephrology Council member 2017-2020

Study sections membership: NIDDK DDK-D 2022 to date; Standing study section member NIH/NIDDK Kidney Molecular Biology and Genitourinary Organ Development (KMBD) Study Section: 2015-2021 Temporary study section member Pathobiology of Kidney Disease (PBKD) 2021; Reviewer NCI intramural program: 2019; NIH Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (X01): 2018; Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR): Gene and Environment study section; Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom; MRC, United Kingdom; India alliance DBT Wellcome; Telethon, Italy; PSI foundation, Canada; NMRC, Ministry of Health Singapore; National Children’s Research Center (NCRC) Dublin, Ireland; Qatar National Research Foundation (QNRF); Alport Syndrome Foundation; Nephcure Kidney International (NKI); Doris Duke Foundation; US Department of Defense; Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO/ZonMw)

Editorial Boards: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology; Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology; Kidney 360; Kidney International; American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology; reviewer for all major nephrology journals and general medical journals

Honors:

American Society of Clinical Investigation (ASCI), inducted 2016; Association of American Physician (AAP), inducted 2022; Doris Duke Foundation Paragon award for Research Excellence; 2023

Board Certification:

Pediatrics, Pediatric Nephrology

Research Interests:

My research program focuses on understanding the molecular pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome (NS) and the biologic basis for disparity in its incidence, and therapy response. In the last fifteen years, my team and our collaborators have identified at least ten new genetic causes and genetic risk factors for NS and other CKD, and we recently defined the genetic epidemiology of APOL1 mediated kidney diseases in West Africa. In addition, we have continued to characterize the mechanisms by which these genes can cause NS, and recently identified biomarkers of disease, and druggable pathways that may treat genetic and idiopathic NS. Furthermore, we have created a robust biorepository for childhood NS by World-Wide collaboration and networking.

Personal Statement:

I am a practicing pediatric nephrologist and physician-scientist. My research program focuses on understanding the molecular pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome and the biological basis for disparity in its incidence and therapy response. I have practiced nephrology on three continents for more than two decades. This is an exciting time to be a nephrologist, given the phenomenal rise in new diagnostic tools and targeted therapies that are either being developed in clinical trials or licensed for clinical use. This would not have been possible without our collective efforts and the platform provided to us by our great Association, ASN. I am deeply committed to teamwork and believe that it is through our collective efforts that we can continue to bring hope to our patients living with CKD. If allowed to serve on the council, I will continue to foster this spirit of collaboration with our leadership to ensure that we continue these upward trajectories.