Rabi Yacoub MD

Rabi Yacoub

Rabi Yacoub
MD

Associate Professor

Department of Medicine

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences


Specialty/Research Focus

Cell growth, differentiation and development; Gene Expression; Immunology; Internal Medicine; Microbiology; Molecular and Cellular Biology; Molecular Basis of Disease; Molecular genetics; Nephrology

Contact Information
Clinical Translational Research Center
875 Ellicott Street
Suite 8022
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 898-4803
Fax: (716) 898-3928
rabiyaco@buffalo.edu


Patient Care

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

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Professional Summary:

My clinical responsibilities include caring for patients coping with a wide variety of renal diseases, including but not limited to acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), glomerulonephritis and polycystic kidney disease. I also manage the care of patients who have resistant hypertension. I see patients at the bedside in Buffalo General Medical Center (BGMC) and in BGMC’s renal clinics.

My research focuses on finding modifiable factors to reverse or halt the progression of CKD, through modifying the contents of gut bacteria (microbiota) and studying their correlation to disease states. Studies have demonstrated that gut microbiota can influence numerous aspects of human biology, and alterations in their function and composition (dysbiosis) suggest they play a role in the pathogenesis of diverse human illnesses such as chronic inflammation, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and recently, CKD.

I use both human and animal studies to explore the effects of gut microbiota dysbiosis on renal diseases. I have conducted clinical trials evaluating the diversities and population of gut bacteria in patients with different degrees of renal insufficiencies. I also have evaluated the role of diet on gut bacteria and inflammation, in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are on dialysis. To confirm the findings and further explore the importance of gut microbiota on renal diseases and conditions, I am conducting animal experiments using different murine models of advanced and acute-reversible renal diseases.

In addition to my research activities, I supervise and teach renal fellows, medicine residents and medical students in the renal inpatient rotation and in the renal outpatient clinic.

Education and Training:

  • Fellowship, Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Siani (2015)
  • Residency, Internal Medicine, University at Buffalo (2012)
  • Fellowship, Aleppo University (2009)
  • Residency, Internal Medicine, Aleppo University (2006)
  • MD, Medicine, Aleppo University (2002)

Employment:

  • Associate Professor of Medicine, Internal Medicine, University at Buffalo (2023-present)
  • Clinical Director, Division of Nephrology, Internal Medicine, University at Buffalo (2023-present)
  • Wende Correctional Facility Dialysis Unit Medical Director, Wende Correctional Facility (2020-present)
  • Associate Program Director, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2019-present)
  • Assistant Professor, Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2015–2023)
  • Hertel Davita Dialysis Medical Director, Davita Dialysis (2019–2020)
  • Instructor in Medicine, St. Luis Hopital (2006–2008)

Awards and Honors:

  • Distinguished reviewer, Journal of General Internal Medicine (2014)
  • Winner, New York Society of Nephrology: Fellows research night (2014)
  • Thomas F. Frawley Residency Research Fellowship award special recognition (2012)

Research Expertise:

  • Gut microbiota and renal diseases: Evaluating the effects of gut microbiota diversities in different stages of kidney injury and its role on disease progression and the development of cardiac co morbid conditions
  • Megalin and kidney diseases
  • Nephrin role in kidney development: Evaluate the role of the podocytes specific protein Nephrin during early stages of kidney development
  • Nephrin role in kidney disease: The role of the podocyte specific protein nephrin in maintaining the podocyte's viability and function, and the effects of its decreased expression in different kidney diseases
  • Uremic toxins and CVD/atherosclerosis

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • September 2018–July 2023
    R01 DK114485 Computational Imaging of Renal Structures for Diagnosing Diabetic Nephropathy
    National Institutes of Health (NIH) NIDDK/NIH
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $993,750
  • July 2019–June 2020
    Computational analysis of neutrophil extracellular traps in lupus nephritis renal biopsies
    NIDDK/NIH, CKD Biomarkers Consortium BioCon Pilot Studies
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $50,000
  • April 2019–March 2020
    Real-Time Dynamics of Drug-Induced Nephrotoxicity
    Clinical and Translational Science Institute Pilot studies
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $50,000
  • April 2018–April 2019
    Effects of Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Dysbiosis on Cardiovascular Diseases
    Clinical and Translational Science Institute Pilot studies
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $50,000
  • September 2015–September 2018
    Gut Microbiota and Renal Disease
    Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • July 2016–July 2017
    Genomic, Environment and Microbiome
    GEM 2016
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $40,000
  • July 2014–July 2015
    Ben J. Lipps Research Fellowship ProgramASN Foundation for Kidney Research
    American Society of Nephrology
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $50,000
  • November 2014–November 2014
    Professional Development Seminar
    American Society of Nephrology
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $800

Journal Articles:

See all (42 more)

Professional Memberships:

  • International Society of Nephrology (2013–present)
  • American Society of Nephrology (2012–present)
  • Medical Society of the State of New York (2009–present)
  • American College of Physicians (2009–present)
  • Arab Board of Medical Specialization (2004–present)
  • Syrian Medical Association (2002–present)

Presentations:

  • "Demographic, Regional and Social Predictors of Do Not Resuscitate Order Utilization in Intracerebral Hemmorrhage: A National Perspective." International Stroke Conference (2015)
  • "HLA Profile and Short and Long Term Outcomes in African American Donors and Recipients." Kidney Week (2015)
  • "Hypernatremia During Hospitalization is associated with Increased Risk of Death: A Systematic Review and Meta Anaylsis." Kidney Week (2015)
  • "Probiotic and Yogurt Consumption is Associated with a Lower Prevalence of Albuminuria: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES." Kidney Week (2015)
  • "HLA match/mismatch profiles and impact on 10 year graft survival: An analysis of OPTN/UNOS registry data" Kidney week; American Society of Nephrology; Clinical Transplantation (2014)
  • "RAAS Blockade – Does it Cause or Worsen AKI?" Kidney week; American Society of Nephrology; Drugs, Devices, and Development of AKI (2014)

Service Activities:

  • Faculty Senate; Member (2019–2021)
  • The Florida Department of Health James and Esther King Research Program; Dept of Health-James and Esther King Research Program;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2019)
  • Association for clinical and translational science; Translational Science 2019;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2019)
  • The Florida Department of Health James and Esther King Research Program; Dept of Health-James and Esther King Research Program;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2018)
  • The Florida Department of Health Research Program; Dept of Health-The Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2018)
  • National Institute of Health (NIH); NIH – KNOD study section;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2018)
  • The Austrian Science Fund FWF; IPN of EGTC; “Interregional Project Networks (IPN)” of the European Region Tyrol–South Tyrol–Trentino (EGTC);; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2018)
  • The Florida Department of Health Research Program; Dept of Health-The Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2017)
  • Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University at Buffalo; Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University at Buffalo;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2017–present)
  • Attending on Service/Nephrology Attending on service / Nephrology rotation, BGMC and RPCI; Teacher (2015–present)
  • Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY); Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY);; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2011–2013)
  • Associate Editor Journal of Medical Education Perspectives; Associate Editor
  • Consulting Editor International Journal of Nephrology and Renovascular Disease; Editor
  • Consulting Editor Transplant Research and Risk Management; Editor

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Contact Information

Clinical Translational Research Center
875 Ellicott Street
Suite 8022
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 898-4803
Fax: (716) 898-3928
rabiyaco@buffalo.edu

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

View this physician on UBMD