Duncan B. Johnstone MD, PhD
Duncan B. Johnstone
MD, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Nephrology
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDProfessional Summary:
I provide clinical care for a diverse group of patients with kidney disease. My research and primary clinical interest are people who have glomerular diseases that cause nephrotic syndrome, nephritic syndrome, or arise from systemic vasculitis. I am also happy to see patients with CKD of unclear cause, with the aim that I might find a reversible cause of kidney disease to prevent the need for dialysis, or delay dialysis as long as possible.
In addition, I provide care for patients with malignant hypertension, renal artery stenosis, recurrent kidney stones, genetic kidney diseases such as polycystic kidney disease, rare kidney diseases such as idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis, and disorders of electrolytes or acid-base status.
I have received funding from the NIH, the American Heart Association and the NephCure foundation to study the basic science of glomerular disease. This work started in cultured cells and transgenic mice, then evolved to study patients with rare mutations in APOL1 in India, and then clinical studies of Nephrotic and Nephritic Syndrome as part of the NEPTUNE and CureGN consortium.
Lastly, I provide care to patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, with a goal of making the quality of life as good as possible while undergoing dialysis. Among dialysis patients, I have been involved with clinical studies of uremic itching, which involves opiod and capsaicin pathways instead of histamine.
As a member of the Jacobs School faculty, my goals are to remain on the forefront of clinical and translational care to provide the best care for my patients with kidney disease, and to share what I have learned over the years with medical students, resident doctors, nephrology fellows, students in NP or PA training, and more. For my teaching, I have received awards from internal medicine residents and nephrology fellows at the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh.
I enjoy discussing complex kidney disease topics at all levels of medical expertise, including “lunch and learn” lectures to patients and families with nephrotic syndrome, talks with colleagues in primary care, or colleagues from Urology, cardiology and critical care who have shared interests.
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, Nephrology, University of Michigan Hospitals (2007)
- Residency, Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Hospital (2004)
- MD, Medicine, University of Washington (2001)
- PhD, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Washington (2001)
- BA, History and Science, Harvard College, Magna Cum Laude (1990)
Employment:
- Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, University of Buffalo (2022-present)
- Course Director, Medical School Renal Block, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Renal Block (2020–2021)
- Dialysis Unit Director, Fresenius, FMC Western Pennsylvania (2020–2021)
- Medical Advisory Board, National Kidney Foundation of Western Pennsylvania (2020–2021)
- Associate Professor, Clinical Director, and Associate Chief in Renal-Electrolyte, Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh (2019–2021)
- Dialysis Physician, DCI Oakland (2019–2021)
- Associate Professor and Fellowship Program Director, Nephrology, Internal Medicine, Temple University Health System (2015–2019)
- Chair, Medication Safety and Practices subcommittee, Temple University Hospital (2013–2019)
- Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Temple University Hospital (2013–2019)
- Dialysis Physician, DCI Philadelphia (2012–2019)
- Dialysis Physician, FMC Episcopal (2012–2019)
- Clinical Competency Committee for Internal Medicine Residency, Internal Medicine, Temple University (2015–2017)
- Chair, Clinical Competency Committee for Nephrology, Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Temple University (2014–2015)
- Assistant Professor in Nephrology, Internal Medicine, Temple University Health System (2011–2015)
- Instructor in Nephrology, Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2009–2011)
- Lecturer in Nephrology, Internal Medicine, University of Michigan (2007–2009)
Awards and Honors:
- Annual Faculty Teaching Award (2021)
- Annual Faculty Teaching Award (2020)
- Annual Faculty Teaching Award (2019)
- NephCure nominated “Nephrotic Syndrome Specialist” (2019)
- Annual Faculty Teaching Award (2018)
- 1 of the top 4 scores nationwide, ABIM nephrology exam (2017)
- Outstanding Faculty Consultant Annual Award (2016)
- Outstanding Faculty Consultant Annual Award (2014)
- Fellow of the American College of Physicians (2013)
- Faculty of 1000 Recommended Article, "http://f1000.com/prime/717970781?bd=1&ui=22087" (2013)
- J. Russell Elkinton Faculty Teaching Award (2012)
- Cover Illustration and "Spotlight article," Molecular and Cellular Biology, Vol 31(10) (2011)
- 1st Prize, Nephrology Fellow Research Day, Midwest Chapter (2008)
- Outstanding Teacher Award (2004)
- Excellence in Teaching (2003)
Research Expertise:
- Genetic approach to potassium channel biology in C. elegans: PhD thesis with 3 peer reviewed publications and multiple abstracts.
- Molecular and cellular biology of podocytes; studies of Fat1, Myh9, and APOL1 in tissue culture, mice and humans.: Post doctoral basic research of glomerular disease at University of Michigan and University of Pennsylvania.
- Multi-site clinical studies of glomerular disease (both NIH sponsored and industry sponsored). Clinical studies of uremic itch in dialysis patients. Clinical studies of anemia in chronic kidney disease.
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- January 2019–August 2019
Phase 2 study of CO22102 in FSGS
Pfizer
Role: Principal Investigator - June 2017–August 2019
“A phase III, randomized, open-label, comparative safety and efficacy trial of intravenous iron isomaltoside (Monofer) and iron sucrose in subjects with iron deficiency anaemia and non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease”
Pharmacosmos, Parexel
Role: Principal Investigator - January 2017–August 2019
Cure Glomerulonephritis consortium "CureGN"
NIH/NIDDK
Role: Co-Investigator - January 2013–August 2019
Neptune Consortium: multi-center study of the Nephrotic Syndrome
NIH/NIDDK
Role: Co-Investigator - January 2015–December 2017
“Study of uremic pruritis, extension study”
Trevi therapeutics
Role: Co-Investigator - January 2015–December 2017
“Efficacy and Safety of RE-021, a Dual Endothelin Receptor and Angiotensin Receptor Blocker, in Patients with FSGS: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Active-Control, Dose-Escalation Study”
Retrophin
Role: Principal Investigator - January 2013–December 2016
“Losmapimod to Reduce Proteinuria in Steroid-Resistant Idiopathic Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) Patients”
Glaxo Smith Kline
Role: Principal Investigator - October 2009–June 2014
“Fat1 and Conventional Kinesin In Lateral Polarity”
NIH/NIDDK K-award K08-DK-082616
Role: Principal Investigator - January 2011–December 2011
“Utilizing Gene Delivery to Examine Inherited Kidney Disease Due to Variant Alleles of APOL1”
NIH, via site grant to the University of Pennsylvania
Role: Principal Investigator - May 2010–November 2011
“Fat1 and Conventional Kinesin In Lateral Polarity”
NIH/NIDDK KO8 supplementary grant
Role: Principal Investigator - July 2008–June 2009
“Interaction of Slit Diaphragm Protein Fat1 with Conventional Kinesin, Microtubules and the Actin Cytoskeleton”
NephCure Young Investigator Grant
Role: Principal Investigator - July 2006–June 2008
“The Role of slit diaphragm protein Fat1 in cell polarity”
American Heart Association 0625779Z
Role: Principal Investigator
Journal Articles:
- Skiba JH, Bansal AD, Palmer OMP, Johnstone DB. (2022) Case Report: Clinical Consequences of Adjusting Estimated GFR for Black Race. Journal of general internal medicine (Mar), 37(4): 958-961.
- Canetta PA, Troost JP, Mahoney S, Kogon AJ, Carlozzi N, Bartosh SM, Cai Y, Davis TK, Fernandez H, Fornoni A, Gbadegesin RA, Herreshoff E, Mahan JD, Nachman PH, Selewski DT, Sethna CB, Srivastava T, Tuttle KR, Wang CS, Falk RJ, Gharavi AG, Gillespie BW, Greenbaum LA, Holzman LB, Kretzler M, Robinson BM, Smoyer WE, Guay-Woodford LM, Reeve B, Gipson DS, . (2019) Health-related quality of life in glomerular disease. Kidney international (May), 95(5): 1209-1224. doi:10.1016/j.kint.2018.12.018
- Mariani LH, Bomback AS, Canetta PA, Flessner MF, Helmuth M, Hladunewich MA, Hogan JJ, Kiryluk K, Nachman PH, Nast CC, Rheault MN, Rizk DV, Trachtman H, Wenderfer SE, Bowers C, Hill-Callahan P, Marasa M, Poulton CJ, Revell A, Vento S, Barisoni L, Cattran D, D'Agati V, Jennette JC, Klein JB, Laurin LP, Twombley K, Falk RJ, Gharavi AG, Gillespie BW, Gipson DS, Greenbaum LA, Holzman LB, Kretzler M, Robinson B, Smoyer WE, Guay-Woodford LM, . (2019) CureGN Study Rationale, Design, and Methods: Establishing a Large Prospective Observational Study of Glomerular Disease. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation (Feb), 73(2): 218-229. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2018.07.020
- Trachtman H, Nelson P, Adler S, Campbell KN, Chaudhuri A, Derebail VK, Gambaro G, Gesualdo L, Gipson DS, Hogan J, Lieberman K, Marder B, Meyers KE, Mustafa E, Radhakrishnan J, Srivastava T, Stepanians M, Tesar V, Zhdanova O, Komers R, . (2018) DUET: A Phase 2 Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Sparsentan in Patients with FSGS. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN (Nov), 29(11): 2745-2754. doi:10.1681/ASN.2018010091
- Selewski DT, Ambruzs JM, Appel GB, Bomback AS, Matar RB, Cai Y, Cattran DC, Chishti AS, D'Agati VD, D. (2018) Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Children and Adults With IgA Nephropathy or IgA Vasculitis: Findings From the CureGN Study. Kidney international reports (Nov), 3(6): 1373-1384. doi:10.1016/j.ekir.2018.07.021
- Gillies CE, Putler R, Menon R, Otto E, Yasutake K, Nair V, Hoover P, Lieb D, Li S, Eddy S, Fermin D, McNulty MT, , Hacohen N, Kiryluk K, Kretzler M, Wen X, Sampson MG. (2018) An eQTL Landscape of Kidney Tissue in Human Nephrotic Syndrome. American journal of human genetics (Aug), 103(2): 232-244. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.07.004
- Singh N, Johnstone DB, Martin KA, Tempera I, Kaplan MJ, Denny MF. (2016) Alterations in nuclear structure promote lupus autoimmunity in a mouse model. Disease models & mechanisms (Aug), 9(8): 885-97. doi:10.1242/dmm.024851
- Sampson MG, Robertson CC, Martini S, Mariani LH, Lemley KV, Gillies CE, Otto EA, Kopp JB, Randolph A, Vega-Warner V, Eichinger F, Nair V, Gipson DS, Cattran DC, Johnstone DB, O'Toole JF, Bagnasco SM, Song PX, Barisoni L, Troost JP, Kretzler M, Sedor JR, . (2016) Integrative Genomics Identifies Novel Associations with APOL1 Risk Genotypes in Black NEPTUNE Subjects. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN (Mar), 27(3): 814-23. doi:10.1681/ASN.2014111131
- Sorrell SL, Golder ZJ, Johnstone DB, Frankl FEK. (2016) Renal peroxiredoxin 6 interacts with anion exchanger 1 and plays a novel role in pH homeostasis. Kidney international (Jan), 89(1): 105-112. doi:10.1038/ki.2015.277
- Gipson DS, Troost JP, Lafayette RA, Hladunewich MA, Trachtman H, Gadegbeku CA, Sedor JR, Holzman LB, Moxey-Mims MM, Perumal K, Kaskel FJ, Nelson PJ, Tuttle KR, Bagnasco SM, Hogan MC, Dell KM, Appel GB, Lieske JC, Ilori TO, Sethna CB, Fervenza FC, Hogan SL, Nachman PH, Rosenberg AZ, Greenbaum LA, Meyers KE, Hewitt SM, Choi MJ, Kopp JB, Zhdanova O, Hodgin JB, Johnstone DB, Adler SG, Avila-Casado C, Neu AM, Hingorani SR, Lemley KV, Nast CC, Brady TM, Barisoni-Thomas L, Fornoni A, Jennette JC, Cattran DC, Palmer MB, Gibson KL, Reich HN, Mokrzycki MH, Sambandam KK, Zilleruelo GE, Licht C, Sampson MG, Song P, Mariani LH, Kretzler M. (2016) Complete Remission in the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN (Jan), 11(1): 81-9. doi:10.2215/CJN.02560315
- Rosenberg AZ, Palmer M, Merlino L, Troost JP, Gasim A, Bagnasco S, Avila-Casado C, Johnstone D, Hodgin JB, Conway C, Gillespie BW, Nast CC, Barisoni L, Hewitt SM. (2016) The Application of Digital Pathology to Improve Accuracy in Glomerular Enumeration in Renal Biopsies. PloS one (Jan), 11(6): e0156441. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156441
- Johnstone DB, Ikizler O, Zhang J, Holzman LB. (2013) Background strain and the differential susceptibility of podocyte-specific deletion of Myh9 on murine models of experimental glomerulosclerosis and HIV nephropathy. PloS one (Jan), 8(7): e67839. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0067839
- George B, Verma R, Soofi AA, Garg P, Zhang J, Park TJ, Giardino L, Ryzhova L, Johnstone DB, Wong H, Nihalani D, Salant DJ, Hanks SK, Curran T, Rastaldi MP, Holzman LB. (2012) Crk1/2-dependent signaling is necessary for podocyte foot process spreading in mouse models of glomerular disease. The Journal of clinical investigation (Feb), 122(2): 674-92. doi:10.1172/JCI60070
- Johnstone DB, Shegokar V, Nihalani D, Rathore YS, Mallik L, Ashish , Zare V, Ikizler HO, Powar R, Holzman LB. (2012) APOL1 null alleles from a rural village in India do not correlate with glomerulosclerosis. PloS one (Jan), 7(12): e51546. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051546
- Zhdanova O, Srivastava S, Di L, Li Z, Tchelebi L, Dworkin S, Johnstone DB, Zavadil J, Chong MM, Littman DR, Holzman LB, Barisoni L, Skolnik EY. (2011) The inducible deletion of Drosha and microRNAs in mature podocytes results in a collapsing glomerulopathy. Kidney international (Oct), 80(7): 719-30. doi:10.1038/ki.2011.122
- Johnstone DB, Zhang J, George B, Léon C, Gachet C, Wong H, Parekh R, Holzman LB. (2011) Podocyte-specific deletion of Myh9 encoding nonmuscle myosin heavy chain 2A predisposes mice to glomerulopathy. Molecular and cellular biology (May), 31(10): 2162-70. doi:10.1128/MCB.05234-11
- Arif E, Wagner MC, Johnstone DB, Wong HN, George B, Pruthi PA, Lazzara MJ, Nihalani D. (2011) Motor protein Myo1c is a podocyte protein that facilitates the transport of slit diaphragm protein Neph1 to the podocyte membrane. Molecular and cellular biology (May), 31(10): 2134-50. doi:10.1128/MCB.05051-11
- Garg P, Verma R, Nihalani D, Johnstone DB, Holzman LB. (2007) Neph1 cooperates with nephrin to transduce a signal that induces actin polymerization. Molecular and cellular biology (Dec), 27(24): 8698-712. doi:10.1128/MCB.00948-07
- Johnstone DB, Holzman LB. (2006) Clinical impact of research on the podocyte slit diaphragm. Nature clinical practice. Nephrology (May), 2(5): 271-82.
- Singri N, Johnstone D, Paparello J, Khosla N, Ahya SN, Ghossein C, Schlueter W, Rosa R, Batlle D, Levin ML. (2004) Effect of predialysis eating on measurement of urea reduction ratio and Kt/V. Advances in chronic kidney disease (Oct), 11(4): 398-403.
- Johnstone D, Berger C, Fleckman P. (2001) Acute fulminant hepatitis after treatment with rabeprazole and terbinafine. Archives of internal medicine (Jul), 161(13): 1677-8.
- Kunkel MT, Johnstone DB, Thomas JH, Salkoff L. (2000) Mutants of a temperature-sensitive two-P domain potassium channel. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience (Oct), 20(20): 7517-24. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.20-20-07517.2000
- Johnstone DB, Wei A, Butler A, Salkoff L, Thomas JH. (1997) Behavioral defects in C. elegans egl-36 mutants result from potassium channels shifted in voltage-dependence of activation. Neuron (Jul), 19(1): 151-64.
- Johnstone DB, Farr SB. (1991) AppppA binds to several proteins in Escherichia coli, including the heat shock and oxidative stress proteins DnaK, GroEL, E89, C45 and C40. The EMBO journal (Dec), 10(12): 3897-904.
Professional Memberships:
- Association of Specialty Professors (2015–present)
- Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) (2012–present)
- American Society of Microbiology (2011–2014)
- National Kidney Foundation (2010–present)
- American Society of Nephrology (2005–present)
Presentations:
- "“Nephrotoxins and Interstitial Nephritis”" Medicine Grand Rounds, UPMC Susquehana (2021)
- "“Nephrolithiasis”" Medicine Grand Rounds, UPMC Susquehana (2021)
- "“Race based algorithms for estimating GFR”" General Internal Medicine Grand Rounds, University of Pittsburgh (2020)
- "“ESRD: No place like home”" Annual Update in Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh (2020)
- "“Deciphering Race-Based eGFR”" University of Pittsburgh Global Health (2020)
- "“Renal-Electrolyte Year in Review”" Medicine Grand Rounds, Shadyside hospital (2020)
- "“Renal-Electrolyte Year in Review”" Medicine Grand Rounds, University of Pittsburgh (2019)
- "“Round up the Usual Suspects: renal failure in HIV”" University of Pittsburgh, Renal-Electrolyte Division (2019)
- "“Tough Beans and Tough Eggs”" SUNY Buffalo Nephrology Grand Rounds (2018)
- "“Post-parathyroidectomy and The Hungry Bone Syndrome”" Department of Surgery Symposium, Temple University (2018)
- "“Treating Hypertension in CKD and dialysis patients”" General Internal Medicine, Temple University (2016)
- "“FSGS: the known, unknown and in-between,”" Nephrology Grand Rounds, Drexel University (2015)
- "“Research Overview at Nephcure,”" The Nephcure Foundation Lunch and Learn Seminars, (2013)
- "“Glomerular disease at the MYH9/APOL1 locus”" Temple University, Nephrology Grand Rounds (2012)
- "Genetics and Kidney Disease" University of Pennsylvania, Renal-Electrolyte Division (2012)
- "Kidney disease at the Myh9/APOL1 locus" SUNY Buffalo, Nephrology Grand Rounds (2012)
- "“Glomerular disease at the Myh9/APOL1 locus" Grand Rounds, Institute for Microbial Technology (IMTEC) (2012)
- "“Glomerulopathy at the Myh9/APOL1 locus in mouse and man" Yale University, Nephrology Grand Rounds (2011)
- "“Of Mice and Men: Glomerulopathy and the MYH9/APOL1 locus" University of Iowa, Nephrology Grand Rounds (2011)
- "“The Physiology of Renal Blood Flow and Glomerular Filtration Rate" Drexel School of Medicine (2011)
- "“Glomerular disease at the MYH9/APOL1 locus”" Jefferson University School of Medicine (2011)
- "Kidney disease in mouse and man: Myh9 and ApoL1" Physician-Scientist Series, University of Pennsylvania (2010)
- "Myh9 and kidney disease in mouse and man" NIH symposium on MYH9 and Kidney Disease (2010)
- "Introduction to ICU dialysis" Workshop for Renal fellow, Pulmonary fellows, and Critical Care fellows, 2020 and 2021
- "Orientation to Fellowship in Nephrology" NKF of Delaware Valley, Renal Fellow Symposium (Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, Delaware and Eastern Maryland), 2016-2019
Service Activities:
- ; Assistant author (to Dr Palevsky), Dialysis to nursing home COVID-19 transfer form, Western Pennsylvania (2020)
- ; Author, Dialysis to nursing home COVID-19 transfer proposal, Pennsylvania Dept of Heath (2020)
- ; JASN (Journal of the American Society of Nephrology) (2020–present)
- ; Judge for “Doctor’s dilemma,” American College of Physicians (2019)
- ; Question Reviewer for “Doctor’s dilemma,” American College of Physicians (2019–present)
- Free kidney and hypertension screening held at Enon Baptist Church, Philadelphia.; Physician Volunteer, NKF World Kidney Day (2016–2017)
- ; American Journal of Kidney Disease (2016–present)
- ; BMC Medical Genetics (2016–present)
- ; BMC nephrology (2015–present)
- ; At Temple University Hospital: Author of Anemia Protocol, 2014-2019 Author of Intravenous iron protocol, 2014-2019 EPIC eCare Physicians Group Nephrology Representative, 2014-2019 Co-Author of EPIC dialysis order sets (w Dr. Gerri Shulman), 2015-2019 Co-Author of iMed nephology consents (with Dr. Gerri Shulman), 2015- 2019 Co-Author of Hospital Guideline for DKA and HHNK (with Drs. Needleman, Rao, Gillespie, and Rubin), 2015 EPIC “champion” for Nephrology, 2015-2019 Author of SPAD Protocol (Single Pass Albumin Dialysis), 2018 Co-Author of Vancomycin dosing protocol (with PharmD Morita and Dr Mueller), 2018 Co-Author of Gentamicin dosing protocol (with PharmD group), 2018 Author of Protocol for parathyroidectomy / hungry bone syndrome, 2018 (2014–2019)
- ; American Journal of Transplantation (2014–present)
- ; Molecular Endocrinology (2014–present)
- ; American Journal of Physiology Renal-Physiology (2012–present)
- ; Moderator, ASN annual meeting, “Tubulo-interstitial fibrosis, starting and stopping” (2011)
- ; NIH O'Brien Renal Center (2011)