Richard J. Quigg MD

Richard Quigg

Richard J. Quigg
MD

Arthur M. Morris Professor and Chief, Division of Nephrology

Department of Medicine

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Specialty/Research Focus

Autoimmunity; Bioinformatics; Genomics and proteomics; Immunology; Internal Medicine; Molecular Basis of Disease; Nephrology

Contact Information
Clinical Translational Research Center
875 Ellicott Street, Suite 8030
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: 716-888-4826
rquigg@buffalo.edu
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This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.

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Professional Summary:

Over the past 36 years, my outpatient focus has been the care and management of patients with complex glomerular and autoimmune diseases. I serve as attending physician on the renal consult services for UBMD Nephrology at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) and Roswell Park Cancer Institute. I also serve as attending physician on the inpatient general medicine services at ECMC.

My research concentrates on understanding mechanisms that underlie kidney disease, including the role of the complement system, a major factor in the body‘s immune response. My lab has developed and studied animal models of systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, obstructive nephropathy and acute renal failure. In addition to modeling disease in animals, we also have performed clinical studies both for promising new therapies and for those that focus on examining gene profiles from diseased renal tissue. To answer questions that arise in the course of our research, our work spans a number of disciplines and utilizes state-of-the-art approaches such as mouse kidney transplantation, 15-color flow cytometry and magnetic resonance imaging.

My original degree is in mathematics, which remains a passion of mine. I also am interested in computational biology and founded the Computation Biology Core Facility at the University of Chicago. The core strength and emphasis of UB in the area of clinical informatics was a key factor in my decision to accept a position here so that I can continue to contribute to projects related to this field. In collaboration with leadership from other disciplines at UB, I helped establish one of the first clinical informatics fellowship programs in the United States. As a result, we accepted in 2014 the first joint nephrology/clinical informatics trainee in the country.

As an educator, I am committed to the career development of the students, trainees and faculty working with me in my lab, in clinical research areas, in clinical informatics and in the clinical arena. Over the course of my career, I have mentored many outstanding students, fellows and faculty. Under my leadership and guidance, a number have received nationally competitive awards, and many have gone on to become academic leaders--including one who became a medical school dean.

From 2004 to 2019, I served on the Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases Subcommittee of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), which critically evaluates training in nephrology.

From 2019 to the present (2024), I have been the chair of the NIH/NIDDK peer review committees of their programs in Glomerular Disease Research and Treatment (CureGN), Pediatric Centers of Excellence in Nephrology (P50), and Institutional Network Awards for Promoting Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Research Training (U2C-TL1).

Education and Training:
  • Fellowship, Nephrology fellowship, Boston University Medical Center (1988)
  • Residency, Internal Medicine residency, SUNY-Stony Brook (1984)
  • BA, Medical Sciences, Mathematics Minor, Boston University, Summa Cum Laude (1981)
  • MD, Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Summa Cum Laude (1981)

Employment:
  • Associate Director, Clinical Informatics Fellowship Program, Bioinformatics, State University of New York at Buffalo (2018-present)
  • Chief, Division of Nephrology, Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo (2013-present)
  • Adjunct Professor of Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (2013-present)
  • Chief, Division of Nephrology, Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2013-present)
  • Professor of Biomedical Informatics, Biomedical Informatics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2013-present)
  • Professor of Medicine, Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2013-present)
  • Professor of Medicine, Emeritus, University of Chicago The University of Chicago (2013-present)
  • Professor of Medicine, University of Chicago (2001–2013)
  • Director, University of Chicago Functional Genomics Facility (2000–2010)
  • Founder and Director, Functional Genomics Facility, The University of Chicago (2000–2010)
  • Chief, Division of Nephrology, Medicine, The University of Chicago (1999–2009)
  • Chief, Section of Nephrology, University of Chicago (1999–2009)
  • Founder and Director, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Core Facility, The University of Chicago (2001–2003)
  • Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Chicago (1994–2001)
  • Assistant Professor Medicine, Medical College of Virginia (1988–1994)
  • Research Instructor in Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine (1987–1988)
See all (6 more)

Awards and Honors:
  • Election to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (2015)
  • Faculty Award for Outstanding Research, University at Buffalo, Department of Medicine (2015)
  • Fellow, American College of Physicians (2014)
  • Granted Tenure, University at Buffalo (2013)
  • Teacher of the Year, University of Chicago, Nephrology Section (2012)
  • Teacher of the Year, University of Chicago, Nephrology Section (2011)
  • Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation (2003)
  • Granted Tenure, University of Chicago (1999)
  • Falk Award of Excellence, Arthritis Foundation, Greater Chicago Chapter (1997)
  • American Society of Nephrology Travel Award, XIIth International Congress of Nephrology (1993)
  • XVth International Complement Workshop Travel Award, Kyoto, Japan (1993)
  • XIVth International Complement Workshop Travel Award (1991)
  • First Independent Research Support Transition Award, National Institutes of Health (1989)
  • American Society of Nephrology Travel Award, Xth International Congress of Nephrology (1987)
  • Individual National Research Service Award, National Institutes of Health (1986)
  • Summa cum laude: Boston University (1981)

Research Expertise:
  • Clinical informatics
  • Experimental models of renal disease
  • Functional genomics
  • Pathobiology of the complement system

Research Centers:
  • Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC)

Grants and Sponsored Research:
  • January 2008–January 2013
    Nephrology Research Training
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2010–January 2012
    Endothelial and Renal Tubular FcRn Returns Albumin to the Circulation Preventing its Degradation and Albuminuria
    American Heart Association Grant-in-Aid
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2007–January 2012
    Role of the Complement System in Renal Disease
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2010–January 2011
    Therapeutic Complement Manipulation in a Novel Murine Lupus Nephritis Model
    Lupus Foundation of America
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2005–January 2010
    Pathogenic Role of the Complement System in Murine Lupus
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2006–January 2008
    Targeting Complement Inhibitors to the Proximal Tubule
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2006–January 2007
    Role of Epigenetic Alterations in Diabetic Nephropathy
    Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Innovation Grant
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2002–January 2006
    Role of the Complement System in Glomerulonephritis
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2004–January 2005
    Evaluation of Antisense Therapies in MRL/Ipr Mice, A Spontaneous Model of Lupus
    Antisense Therapeutics
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2002–January 2005
    Gene Changes in the Kidneys and Blood Cells of Patients with Active Lupus Nephritis and the Response of These to Successful Treatment
    GenLogic
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2001–January 2004
    Massively Parallel DNA Analysis
    National Institutes of Health, NIDDK Biotechnology Centers
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2001–January 2004
    Anti-C5 Therapy of Lupus Nephritis
    National Institutes of Health, Autoimmunity Center of Excellence
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 1999–January 2003
    Pathogenic Role of the Complement System in Murine Lupus
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2001–January 2002
    Adminstrative Supplement for the Study of Type 1 Diabetes Gene Targets
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2000–January 2002
    Genetic and Pathologic Alterations in Murine Diabetes
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 1998–January 2002
    Role of the Complement System in Glomerulonephritis
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2000–January 2001
    Administrative Supplement for Gene Profiling Resources
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 1998–January 2000
    Effects of Complement Inhibition in Experimental Rheumatoid Arthritis
    Arthritis Foundation, Greater Chicago Chapter, Biomedical Sciences Grant
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 1997–January 1998
    Effects of Complement Inhibition in Glomerulonephritis
    National Kidney Foundation, Grant in Aid
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 1996–January 1997
    Isolation and Characterization of Rodent Immune Adherence Receptors
    Arthritis Foundation, Greater Chicago Chapter, Biomedical Sciences Grant
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 1993–January 1996
    Abnormal Complement Regulations in Glomerulonephritis
    American Heart Association, National Center, Grant in Aid
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 1994–January 1995
    Abnormal Complement Regulation in Glomerulonephritis
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 1989–January 1994
    Complement Activation on the Glomerular Epithelial Cell
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 1992–January 1993
    Complement Activation on the Glomerular Epithelial Cell
    National Kidney Foundation of Virginia, Research Grant
    Role: Principal Investigator
See all (14 more)

Patents:
  • Tissue targeted complement modulators Systemic suppression of the complement system has been shown to be effective to treat inflammatory disease, yet at the potential cost of compromising host defense and immune homeostasis. Herein disclosed are methods for antigen-specific targeting of complement inhibitors that show that complement inhibitors targeted to the proximal tubular epithelium protect against tubulointerstitial injury and renal dysfunction in a rat model of nephrosis. It is shown that appropriate targeting of a systemically administered complement inhibitor to a site of disease markedy enhances efficacy and obviates the need to systemically inhibit complement. Additionally, it is shown by specifically inhibiting the terminal pathway of complement, that the membrane attack complex (MAC) plays a key role in proteinuria-induced tubulointerstitial injury, thus establishing the MAC as a valid target for pharmacological intervention in proteinuric disorders. The disclosed are compositions can be used in methods of treating pathogenic diseases and inflammatory conditions by modulating the complement system. (2013)
  • MicroRNA 377 as therapeutic target in diabetic nephropathy UCHI 21117.0016U14 (2008)
  • Method for determining biological expression levels by linear programming A method for determining a matrix of expression levels corresponding to a set of biological targets (e.g., genes or gene fragments) and a set of biological samples, including obtaining a matrix of signal values corresponding to the set of biological targets; computing a vector of expression levels for a sample in the set of biological samples using the matrix of signal values; storing the vector of computed expression levels in a storage matrix; repeating the computing and storing steps for each sample in the set of biological samples; and outputting the storage matrix as the matrix of expression levels. The method, based on a linear programming formulation of the problem, works for both "promiscuous" probe array data, in which there may be multiple targets indicated by a single probe, and the "polygamous" case, in which there are multiple probes for a single target. The preferred method can also process data obtained from multiple SAGE analyses using multiple markers. A second embodiment of the method determines optimal expression levels when the available probe data is noisy or uncertain. (2006)
  • MADAM - Microarray Analysis and Data Management System (1.75) (2004)

Journal Articles:

See all (154 more)

Professional Memberships:
  • American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (2018–present)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (2015–present)
  • American College of Physicians (2014–present)
  • American Medical Informatics Association (2012–present)
  • American Society for Clinical Investigation (2003–present)
  • American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2002–present)
  • Association of Medical Laboratory Immunologists (2002–present)
  • University of Chicago Cancer Research Center (2000–2013)
  • American Heart Association, Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease (1993–present)
  • American Association of Immunologists (1992–present)
  • National Kidney Foundation (1990–present)
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (1988–present)
  • American Society of Nephrology (1986–present)
  • International Society of Nephrology (1986–present)
See all (4 more)

Presentations:
  • "Complement: What Have We Learnt from Animal Models?" International Society of Nephrology, Frontiers Meeting, “Complement-related kidney diseases: classification, genetics and treatment" (2022)
  • "What's New in Our Understanding and Treatment of Thrombotic Microangiopathies" National Kidney Foundation Roundtable Lecture Series (2019)
  • "Precision Medicine in the Next Decade - What Every Internist Needs to Know" Medical Grand Rounds, State University of New York at Buffalo (2019)
  • "Clinical Informatics - Now and the Future" Collaborative Learning & Integrated Mentoring in the Biosciences Undergratuate Biomedical Informatics & Data Science (2019)
  • "Complement Activation in Hemodialysis – Are There Therapeutic Opportunities?" Aegean Conference on Complement Therapeutics (2019)
  • "The Complex Cellular Basis of Experimental Complement-Dependent Acute Kidney Injury" 12th International Conference on Complement Therapeutics (2019)
  • "The Role of Complement in Experimental Renal Diseases" Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson (2019)
  • "Thrombotic Microangiopathies: Common Clinical Feature, Different Therapies" Renal Clinical Conference (2018)
  • "Role of Complement in Experimental Renal Diseases" University of Tokyo Visiting Professor (2018)
  • "Primary Care Approach to the Patient with Hematuria and/or Proteinuria" 2018 Primary care Update (2018)
  • "The Role of Complement in Experimental Renal Diseases" Cardiff University Visiting Professor (2017)
  • "The Role of Complement in Experimental Renal Diseases" The New York Academy of Sciences (2017)
  • "Thrombotic Microangiopathies: Common Clinical Features, Different Therapies" Medical Grand Rounds, State University of New York at Buffalo (2017)
  • "Hyperkalemia and Hyponatremia - Commonly Encountered, Often Misunderstood" Medical Grand Rounds, State University of New York at Buffalo (2016)
  • "Complexities of Medical Decision Making: Will the Medical Tricorders of Star Trek‘s Dr. McCoy be in Routine Use ... Before 2166?" Medical Grand Rounds, State University of New York at Buffalo (2016)
  • "Is Clinical Reasoning Logical?" Biomedical Informatics Grand Rounds, State University of New York at Buffalo (2016)
  • "The Renal Cortical Wide Interstitium – So Valuable and Hard-Working Yet So Underappreciated" Columbia University Visiting Professor (2015)
  • "The Renal Cortical Wide Interstitium – So Valuable and Hard-Working Yet So Underappreciated" University of Pittsburgh Visiting Professor (2014)
  • "Glomerulonephritis" Research Grand Rounds, State University of New York at Buffalo (2014)
  • "Renal Failure and Hemoptysis" Clinical Pathological Conference, State University of New York at Buffalo (2014)
  • "Defective Repair in CKD" Monash University Visiting Professor (2014)
  • "Repair in Chronic Kidney Disease" Research Grand Rounds, State University of New York at Buffalo (2014)
  • "Keynote Address: Bench to Bedside....and Back Again. The Unique Walk of a Physician Scientist" MD/ PhD Research Day (2013)
  • "Installation Address" The Inaugural Arthur M. Morris, MD Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Nephrology (2013)
  • "Role of Complement in Autoimmune Renal Disease" American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting:Advances in Research Conference; ; Autoimmunity and Allimmunity (2012)
  • "Membranous Nephropathy: Complement and Complement Receptors" 2nd International Conference on Membranous Nephropathy (2012)
  • "SLE and Complement" Immunology Education Day: Bridging the Gap for Bench to Bedside (2011)
  • "The Role for Complement Receptors in Disease Processes in Various Renal Compartments" Visiting Professor, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School (2011)
  • "What the Mouse Can Tell Us About Human Renal Diseases, or … The Role for Complement Receptors in Disease Processes in Various Renal Compartments" Invited Professor, Vanderbilt University (2010)
  • "Renal Disorders Caused by Neoplasm and Anti-neoplastic Agents" Oncology Grand Rounds, The University of Chicago (2010)
  • "Complement Components in Membranous Nephropathy" International Society of Nephrology Meeting (2009)
  • "Inhibiting Complement Activation: Therapeutic Potential and Pitfalls?" American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting (2008)
  • "What Does the Mouse have to do with Translational Research in Nephrology?" Visiting Professor, Mount Sinai School of Medicine (2007)
  • "Complement Activation in Membranous Nephrolpathy: Can We Intervene Therapeutically?" American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting (2007)
  • "The End-Stage Renal Disease That Went Away-Case Reports of Wegener‘s Granulomatosis and Primary Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome" Medical Grand Rounds, The University of Chicago (2007)
  • "Why the Interaction of Factor H with the Glomerular Endothelium is So Important" World Congress of Nephrology, Vascular Biology Symposium (2007)
  • "Overview of Immunological Renal Disease Pathophysiology" Visiting Professor, New York University School of Medicine (2006)
  • "Regulation of Experimental Autoimmune Nephritis by C3a and C5a" American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting (2006)
  • "Glomerulonephritis" Medical Grand Rounds, SUNY Upstate Medical Center (2006)
  • "Mouse Models of Human Renal Diseases" Visiting Professor, SUNY Upstate Medical Center (2006)
  • "Mouse Models of Human Renal Disease" Taiwan Society of Nephrology (2006)
  • "Treatment of Glomerular Diseases in 2006 - Lots of Old but What's New?" Medical Grand Rounds - Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China (2006)
  • "Complement and Experimental Renal Diseases" Invited Professor, Indiana University (2006)
  • "Complement Activation and Tubulointerstitial Nephritis" American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting (2005)
  • "Is the Movie GATACA Science Fiction?" Medical Grand Rounds, The University of Chicago (2005)
  • "Role of Complement in Experimental Systemic Lupus Erythematosus" UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Excellence in Immunology Lecture Series (2004)
  • "Career Choices in Nephrology" National Kidney Foundation Meetings (2004)
  • "Role of the Complement System in Experimental SLE" Visiting Professor, Boston University School of Medicine (2004)
  • "Lupus Nephritis-Observations from the Experimental Animal and Potential Treatment Options in Clinical Disease" Peruvian Society of Nephrology (2004)
  • "The Role of the Complement System in Renal Disease" World Congress of Nephrology Satellite Symposium (2003)
  • "Visiting Professor, Guy's and St. Thomas Hospital, London" (2003)
  • "Visiting Professor, Hammersmith Hospital, London" (2003)
  • "Visiting Professor, University of Wales College of Medicine" (2003)
  • "Old Renal Diseases as Seen by New Approaches" Visiting Professor, University of Pennsylvania (2003)
  • "Use of Contemporary Molecular Biological Tools to Dissect the Pathogenesis of Experimental Renal Diseases" The 7th Research Forum on Progressive Renal Diseases (2003)
See all (45 more)

Service Activities:
  • NIH NIDDK Cure-GN Review; Chairperson (2024)
  • NIH NIDDK U2C-TL1 Review Panel; Co-chair (2024)
  • JSMBS Faculty Council Steering Committee (2023–present)
  • JSMBS Faculty Executive Committee; Member (2023–present)
  • NIDDK U2C-TL1 review; Co-Chair (2023)
  • Frontiers in Immunology; Associate Editor (2022–present)
  • NIDDK Institutional Network Award for Promoting Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Research Training (U2C-TL1) Review Committee; Co-chair (2022)
  • NIDDK Pediatric Centers of Excellence (P50) Review Committee; Chair (2022)
  • NIDDK U2C-TL1 Review Committee; Co-Chair (2021)
  • National Kidney Foundation’s Scientific Workshop on Improving Clinical Trials for Anti-complement Therapies in Complement-mediated Glomerulopathies; Invited Participant (2019–2021)
  • NIH CureGN Center Review; Chair (2019)
  • Faculty Senate Executive Committee; Committee Member (2018–2020)
  • Faculty Senate; Member (2018–present)
  • Faculty Senate Executive Committee; Member (2018–present)
  • Tenurial Promotions Committee; Committee Member (2014–2017)
  • Committee of Clinical Informatics Program Directors; Member (2013–present)
  • NIDDK Pediatric Centers of Excellence in Nephrology; Chair (2012–2017)
  • NIDDK George M O‘Brien Kidney Center Review; Chair (2008–2013)
  • NIH; Pathobiology of Kidney Disease Initial Review Group; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2007–2011)
  • NIH NIDDK-D Subcommittee; Charter Member (2003–2019)
  • NIH; Pathology A Initial Review Group; Charter Member (2000–2003)
  • National Animal Care and Use Committee, The University of Chicago; Committee Member (1998–2000)
  • Department of Medicine Search Committee, Chairman of Medicine, The University of Chicago; Committee Member (1998)
  • Clinical Affairs Committee, Section of Nephrology, The University of Chicago; Committee Member (1996–1999)

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Contact Information

Clinical Translational Research Center
875 Ellicott Street, Suite 8030
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: 716-888-4826
rquigg@buffalo.edu
View map

This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.

View this physician on UBMD
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