Senior Scientist
,
Chronic Disease
, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Full Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Ottawa and Ottawa Hospital
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Burns received his M.D. from McGill University in 1984, and did
residency training in internal medicine and nephrology at the University
of Ottawa . From 1989 to 1992, he performed a research fellowship in the
Division of Nephrology at Vanderbilt University , under the supervision
of Dr. Ray Harris. Dr. Burns is Professor and Head of the Division of
Nephrology at the Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa and Director
of the Kidney Research Centre at the Ottawa Health Research
Institute-University of Ottawa . His research is supported by funds from
the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Kidney Foundation of
Canada. He was recipient of a Scholarship from the MRC between 1992 and
1997. Dr. Burns is also the Past President of the Canadian Society of
Nephrology (2004-2006).
Research Interests
Dr. Burns' major research interest is in the pathogenesis of progressive
kidney disease, with an emphasis on diabetic nephropathy. The prevalence
of diabetic nephropathy is growing, and this condition represents the
most common cause of kidney failure in Canada . Dr. Burns and his
laboratory are studying the role of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin
system (RAS) in mediating nephron injury. In recent work, they have
shown that a counterregulatory enzyme, ACE2, may reduce the production
and actions of the deleterious RAS product angiotensin II in the kidney.
The laboratory utilizes animal models of kidney disease, as well as cell
and molecular methods.
A second interest is in the localization and function of neuronal nitric
oxide (NO) synthase (nNOS) in the kidney. His laboratory has
demonstrated direct effects of NO on transport function in several
nephron segments, including the proximal tubule, macula densa, and inner
medullary collecting duct. Furthermore, their studies have shown a
down-regulation of nNOS expression in a rat remnant kidney model,
suggesting a role for NO deficiency in chronic kidney disease.
Research Training
Dr. Burns is Program Director of the KRESCENT Program (Kidney Research
Scientist Core Education and National Training Program). Its founding
partners, the Canadian Society of Nephrology and the Kidney Foundation
of Canada, launched this innovative program in 2005 with support from
the CIHR and the private sector. KRESCENT will train up to 28 new kidney
research scientists in Canada over the next 6 years, from all
disciplines of research, and the program will provide salary support, a
core curriculum that emphasizes knowledge translation, and ongoing
mentorship.
Most Recent Publications (provided by The Ottawa Hospital Library Database)
Dilauro M;Zimpelmann J;Robertson SJ;Genest D;Burns KD;, (2010 Mar 31), The Effect of ACE2 and Angiotensin-(1-7) in a Mouse Model of Early Chronic Kidney Disease, Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, -> view abstract
Hiremath S;Doucette SP;Richardson R;Chan K;Burns K;Zimmerman D;, (2010 Feb 25), Left ventricular growth after 1 year of haemodialysis does not correlate with arteriovenous access flow: a prospective cohort study, Nephrol Dial Transplant, -> view abstract
Prasad GV;Ruzicka M;Burns KD;Tobe SW;Lebel M;, (2009 May), Hypertension in dialysis and kidney transplant patients. [Review] [108 refs], Canadian Journal of Cardiology, Vol.25, Issue 5, 309-314 -> view abstract
Burns KD;Li N;, (2009 Mar), Characterization of renin-angiotensin system enzyme activities in cultured mouse podocytes.[comment], American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology, Vol.296, Issue 3, F666
Sedeek M;Hebert RL;Kennedy CR;Burns KD;Touyz RM;, (2009 Mar), Molecular mechanisms of hypertension: role of Nox family NADPH oxidases. [Review] [80 refs], Current Opinion in Nephrology & Hypertension, Vol.18, Issue 2, 122-127 -> view abstract
Zimpelmann J;Burns KD;, (2009 Feb), Angiotensin-(1-7) activates growth-stimulatory pathways in human mesangial cells, American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology, Vol.296, Issue 2, F337 -> view abstract
Cherney DZI;Scholey JW;Zhou J;Zimpelmann J;Kennedy C;Burns KD;Lai V;Miller JA;, (2009), Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms and the renal hemodynamic response to L-arginine, Kidney International, Vol.75, Issue 3, 327-332 -> view abstract
Dilauro M;Burns KD;, (2009), Angiotensin-(1-7) and its effects in the kidney, ScientificWorldJournal , Vol.9, 522-535 -> view abstract
Gava E;Samad-Zadeh A;Zimpelmann J;Bahramifarid N;Kitten GT;Santos RA;Touyz RM;Burns KD;, (2009), Angiotensin-(1-7) activates a tyrosine phosphatase and inhibits glucose-induced signalling in proximal tubular cells, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Vol.24, Issue 6, 1766-1773 -> view abstract
Burns KD;Li N;, (2009), Letter to the editor. Characterization of renin-angiotensin system enzyme activities in cultured mouse podocytes., American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology, Vol.296, Issue 3, F666
Note: This is not a complete list of publications. More publications may be available in The Ottawa Hospital Library database and Pubmed (search by last name and initials).
Roger Guindon Hall
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