Glomerular Disease Clinic
A glomerular disease refers to a kidney disorder affecting the tiny filters units within the kidney called glomeruli. Damage to these filters may lead to the leak of blood and proteins into the urine, swelling, high blood pressure and impaired kidney function.
Nationwide Children's Glomerular Disease Clinic offers a team of experts focused on providing evaluation and treatment of pediatric patients with glomerular disease. Our team includes kidney doctors (nephrologists), nurses, food and nutrition experts (dietitians), mental health doctors (psychologists) and social workers.
Treatments We Offer
Treatment for glomerular diseases may include:
- Immunosuppressive therapy
- Medications to reduce proteinuria
- Antihypertensive therapy
- Specific dietary modifications
Specific treatment will be determined by a team of experts based on the underlying diagnosis and accounting for factors such as age, overall health, medical history, laboratory tests and/or imaging.
For more information about our clinical trials, reach out to us at (614) 722-4360.
Meet Our Team
Gabriel Cara Fuentes, MD, PhD
Gabriel Cara Fuentes, MD, PhD, is the director of the Glomerular Disease Clinic. He is a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded physician-scientist whose research is focused on finding novel targeted therapies and noninvasive biomarkers to help individualize treatment for childhood nephrotic syndrome. Dr. Cara Fuentes is identified as an expert in treating glomerular diseases by NephCure. Dr. Cara-Fuentes is the co-chair of the Pediatric Nephrology group of the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE), a member of the research committee of the Latin American Association of Pediatric Nephrology (ALANEPE) and an editorial fellow of the International Society of Nephrology/Kidney International.
Mahmoud Kallash, MD
Mahmoud Kallash, MD, is an associate professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He also serves as the director of the comprehensive hypertension program at Nationwide Children’s. His clinical and academic interests are in nephrotic syndrome, hypertension and glomerulonephritis. In 2019, he was identified as a nephrotic syndrome expert by NephCure Kidney International. Dr. Kallash is a local principal and co-investigator for multiple local clinical trials and multicenter studies.
Nina Mann, MD
Nina Mann, MD, is a principal investigator in the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center and assistant professor of Nephrology at The Ohio State University. With more than eight years of experience in pediatric nephrology, Dr. Mann’s research interests are strongly connected to her experiences as a clinician. Her research focuses on applying genomic technologies to identify novel genetic etiologies of childhood kidney disease and studying the mechanisms of these diseases using a variety of basic science techniques. Dr. Mann has consistently presented her work regionally, nationally and internationally at events such as the Kidney and Urinary Tract Symposium, the International Pediatric Transplant Association Meeting and the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week.
William E. Smoyer, MD
William E. Smoyer, MD, is vice president of Clinical and Translational Research, director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Research, and holds the Robert Kidder Endowed Chair in Clinical and Translational Research in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s. He is also a professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Smoyer’s clinical interests include glomerulonephritis and nephrotic syndrome, pediatric dialysis and renal replacement therapy, and clinical and translational research therapies. His NIH-funded research investigates mechanisms of glomerular injury and podocyte biology. Dr. Smoyer is also identified as an NephCure Specialist.
Jessica Brown, Clinical Dietitian
Rachael Supplee, Clinical Dietitian
Khristie Wing, RN, RN Clinical Leader
Becoming a Patient
Appointments are by physician referral and can be requested online.
Health care providers may fax referral information to Nephrology and Hypertension at (614) 722-6482. Please specify the referral to the “Glomerular Disease Clinic.”
Patients and families may request a referral to the Glomerular Disease Clinic from their primary care provider or specialist.
Resources for Patients and Families
- AESNI - A nonprofit organization supporting children diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome and their families.
- NephCure - The only kidney organization squarely focused on nephrotic syndrome, FSGS, IgAN, and other rare, protein-spilling kidney diseases. Their mission is to empower people with rare, protein-spilling kidney disease to take charge of their health, while leading the revolution in research, new treatments, and care.
- Nephrotic Syndrome Foundation - A non-profit organization supporting those diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome, their families and the ongoing search for a cure. Their goal is to meet each family and child in these tough times and lift each one up as best we can by providing financial and emotional support to help them weather the times to better health, acceptance, and adjustment.
Resources for Providers
