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Paul R. Brakeman, M.D., Ph.D.

Paul R. Brakeman, M.D., Ph.D.

  • Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
  • Medical Director, Pediatric Dialysis Unit
  • Division of Pediatric Nephrology
  • Department of Pediatrics
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Education

University of California, Berkeley, B.A., Biophysics, 1985-1989
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, M.D., 1989-1997 
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Ph.D., Neuroscience, 1989-1997

 

Residencies

  • University of California, San Francisco, Resident, Pediatrics, 1997-2000
  • University of California, San Francisco, Chief Resident, Pediatrics, 2000-2001

Fellowships

  • University of California, San Francisco, Fellowship, Pediatric Nephrology, 2001-2004

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Pediatrics - General Pediatrics
  • American Board of Pediatrics - Pediatric Nephrology Subspecialty

Clinical Expertise

  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Obstructive nephropathy
  • Pediatric dialysis
  • Systemic lupus erythematous
  • Urinary tract infection

Research Interests

  • Artificial kidney engineering
  • Kidney development
  • Sodium and water transport

Website Links

Biography

Dr. Brakeman is an Associate Professor based at the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital with a primary appointment in Pediatrics and a secondary appointment in the Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine. He completed his undergraduate training at UC Berkeley in biophysics before entering a combined MD/PhD program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His thesis work consisted of evaluating the role of immediate early genes in learning and memory during brain development. He completed his MD and PhD degrees in 1997 before coming to UCSF to pursue residency in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Brakeman served as chief resident in pediatrics in 2000-2001 and then went on to become a fellow in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology at UCSF. During his fellowship, Dr. Brakeman began his renal research career, studying kidney development and the molecular mechanisms of kidney morphogenesis. Dr. Brakeman joined the UCSF faculty after completing his fellowship in 2004.

Since joining the UCSF faculty, Dr. Brakeman has developed clinical expertise in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric dialysis patients, pediatric chronic kidney disease, urinary tract infections and obstructive nephropathy. 

Awards & Honors

  Award  
  Confired By    
  Date    
  • Top Doctor
  • Marin Magazine
  • 2019
  • Top Doctor
  • San Francisco Magazine
  • 2019
  • Top Doctor
  • Marin Magazine
  • 2018
  • Designated Nephrotic Syndrome Expert
  • Nephcure Kidney International
  • 2018
  • Top Doctor
  • San Francisco Magazine
  • 2018
  • Excellence in Teaching Award
  • Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators
  • 2016
  • Basil O’Connor Award
  • March of Dimes
  • 2010 - 2012
  • Travel Award
  • 10th International Developmental Nephrology Workshop
  • 2007
  • Fellow
  • Pediatric Scientist Development Program
  • 2002 - 2004

    • Research Overview

    The primary focus of Dr. Brakeman's research is the engineering of human renal epithelial cells for use in a bioartificial kidney. Work is currently underway at UCSF on a multi-center project to develop a bioartificial implantable renal assist device based on hemofiltration. One of the important components of an implantable bioartificial device is an active renal proximal tubule cell bioreactor that can provide some of the metabolic activity of renal tubules. Another critical function of the cellular bioreactor will be the reabsorption of salt and water in order to reduce the volume of the filtrate generated as much as possible before elimination via the bladder. Dr. Brakeman's lab is focused on engineering human proximal tubules cells to enhance sodium and water reabsorption for use in the bioartificial kidney. In addition, he is actively evaluating the use of the proximal tubule cell bioreactor for use in toxicology and pharmaceutical evaluation of novel compounds. 

    Dr. Brakeman's work is funded by the Roger's Family Foundation.

    Research & Funding

    Data provided by UCSF Profiles, powered by CTSI
    • The Role of Nectin in Congenital Obstructive Nephropathy
      Sponsor:
      Sponsor ID:
      Funding Period:
      Sep 2004
      -
      Nov 2010
      Principal Investigator

    Clinical Trials

    Data provided by UCSF Profiles, powered by CTSI
    • Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network
      Study ID: NCT01209000
      Start Date: Apr 2010
      Estimated Completion Date: Jun 2024
      Condition(s): Minimal Change Disease, Membranous Nephropathy, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, Kidney Disease, Glomerulonephritis

    Publications

    MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM A TOTAL OF 42
    Data provided by UCSF Profiles, powered by CTSI
    1. Kim EJ, Chen C, Gologorsky R, Santandreu A, Torres A, Wright N, Goodin MS, Moyer J, Chui BW, Blaha C, Brakeman P, Vartanian S, Tang Q, David Humes H, Fissell WH, Roy S. Feasibility of an implantable bioreactor for renal cell therapy using silicon nanopore membranes. Nat Commun. 2023 08 29; 14(1):4890. View in PubMed
    2. Onder AM, Ansari MAY, Deng F, Grinsell MM, Patterson L, Jetton J, Fathallah-Shaykh S, Ranch D, Aviles D, Copelovitch L, Ellis E, Chadha V, Elmaghrabi A, Lin JJ, Butani L, Haddad M, Marsenic O, Brakeman P, Quigley R, Shin HS, Garro R, Raina R, Langman CB. Persistent Increase in Serum Ferritin Levels despite Converting to Permanent Vascular Access in Pediatric Hemodialysis Patients: Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium Study. J Clin Med. 2023 Jun 25; 12(13). View in PubMed
    3. Varnell C, Harshman LA, Liu C, Smith L, Al-Akash S, Barletta GM, Brakeman P, Chaudhuri A, Fadakar P, Galea L, Garro R, Gluck C, Kershaw DB, Matossian D, Patel HP, Peterson C, Pruette C, Ranabothu S, Rodig N, Singer P, Sebestyen VanSickle J, Weng PL, Danziger-Isakov L, Seifert ME, Hooper DK. COVID-19 in pediatric kidney transplantation: a follow-up report of the Improving Renal Outcomes Collaborative. Pediatr Nephrol. 2022 May 11. View in PubMed
    4. Lombel RM, Brakeman PR, Sack BS, Butani L. Urologic Considerations in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2022 May; 29(3):308-317. View in PubMed
    5. Ganesan LL, O'Brien FJ, Sirich TL, Plummer NS, Sheth R, Fajardo C, Brakeman P, Sutherland SM, Meyer TW. Association of Plasma Uremic Solute Levels with Residual Kidney Function in Children on Peritoneal Dialysis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2021 10; 16(10):1531-1538. View in PubMed
    6. View All Publications

    In the News

    • East Bay Toddler in Waiting Game For a Combined Liver-Kidney Transplant at UCSF

      UCSF Transplant Surgery - November 24, 2012
      East Bay Toddler
      21-month old Matthew Ouimet was born with primary hyperoxaluria Type I, a rare liver condition that causes buildup of oxalates in the body which damages the kidney. Matthew first experienced renal failure at 4 months old. On both the kidney and liver transplant waiting lists, he now undergoes four-hour dialysis sessions six days a week at UCSF Medical Center, attended by Julius Heilman, R.N. (pictured left), patient care manager of the pediatric dialysis unit and the UCSF Pediatric Transplant [...]

     

     
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