Rabi Yacoub MD
Rabi Yacoub
MD
Associate Professor
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
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:
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 Chief for Clinical Operations, Division of Nephrology, Internal Medicine, University at Buffalo (2023-present)
- Associate Professor of Medicine, 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:
- Bryniarski MA, Sandoval RM, Ruszaj DM, Fraser-McArthur J, Yee BM, Yacoub R, Chaves LD, Campos-Bilderback SB, Molitoris BA, Morris ME. (2023) Defining the Intravital Renal Disposition of Fluorescence-Quenched Exenatide. Molecular pharmaceutics (Feb), 20(2): 987-996. doi:10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00671
- Govind D, Becker J, Miecznikowski J, Rosenberg A, Dang J, Tharaux PL, Yacoub R, Thaiss F, Hoyer P, Manthey D, Lutnick B, Worral A, Mohammad I, Walavalkar V, Tomaszewski J, Jen KY, Sarder P. (2021) PodoSighter: A Cloud-Based Tool for Label-Free Podocyte Detection in Kidney Whole Slide Images. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN (Sep).
- Chaves LD, Abyad S, Honan AM, Bryniarski MA, McSkimming DI, Stahura CM, Wells SC, Ruszaj DM, Morris ME, Quigg RJ, Yacoub R. (2021) Unconjugated p-cresol activates macrophage macropinocytosis leading to increased LDL uptake. JCI insight (Jun), 6(11). doi:10.1172/jci.insight.144410
- Bryniarski MA, Zhao B, Chaves LD, Mikkelsen JH, Yee BM, Yacoub R, Shen S, Madsen M, Morris ME. (2021) Immunoglobulin G Is a Novel Substrate for the Endocytic Protein Megalin. The AAPS journal (Mar), 23(2): 40.
- Govind D, Santo BA, Ginley B, Yacoub R, Rosenberg AZ, Jen KY, Walavalkar V, Wilding GE, Worral AM, Mohammad I, Sarder P. (2021) Automated detection and quantification of Wilms. Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering (Feb), 11603. doi:10.1117/12.2581387
- Bryniarski MA, Yee BM, Chaves LD, Stahura CM, Yacoub R, Morris ME. (2020) Megalin-mediated albumin endocytosis in cultured murine mesangial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun (Aug), 529(3): 740-746.
- Maraszek KE, Santo BA, Yacoub R, Tomaszewski JE, Mohammad I, Worral AM, Sarder P. (2020) The Presence and Location of Podocytes in Glomeruli as Affected by Diabetes Mellitus. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng (Feb), 11320.
- Ginley B, Lutnick B, Jen KY, Fogo AB, Jain S, Rosenberg A, Walavalkar V, Wilding G, Tomaszewski JE, Yacoub R, Rossi GM, Sarder P. (2019) Computational Segmentation and Classification of Diabetic Glomerulosclerosis. J Am Soc Nephrol (Oct), 30(10): 1953-1967.
- Yacoub R, Nadkarni GN, McSkimming DI, Chaves LD, Abyad S, Bryniarski MA, Honan AM, Thomas SA, Gowda M, He JC, Uribarri J. (2019) Fecal Microbiota Analysis of Polycystic Kidney Disease Patients According to Renal Function: A Pilot Study. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) (Apr), 244(6): 505-513.
- Bryniarski MA, Hamarneh F, Yacoub R. (2019) The Role of Chronic Kidney Disease-associated Dysbiosis in Cardiovascular Disease. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) (Apr), 244(6): 514-525.
- Lutnick B, Ginley B, Govind D, McGarry SD, LaViolette PS, Yacoub R, Jain S, Tomaszewski JE, Jen KY, Sarder P. (2019) An Integrated Iterative Annotation Technique for Easing Neural Network Training in Medical Image Analysis. Nat Mach Intell (Feb), 1(2): 112-119.
- Bryniarski MA, Yee BM, Jaffri I, Chaves LD, Yu JA, Guan X, Ghavam N, Yacoub R, Morris ME. (2018) Increased Megalin Expression in Early Type 2 Diabetes: Role of Insulin-signaling Pathways. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol (Nov), 315(5): 1191-1207.
- Chaves LD, McSkimming DI, Bryniarski MA, Honan AM, Abyad S, Thomas SA, Wells S, Buck M, Sun Y, Genco RJ, Quigg RJ, Yacoub R. (2018) Chronic Kidney Disease, Uremic Milieu, and its Effects on Gut Bacterial Microbiota Dysbiosis. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol (Sep), 315(3): 487-502.
- Yacoub R, Jacob A, Wlaschin J, McGregor M, Quigg RJ, Alexander JJ. (2018) Lupus: The Microbiome Angle. Immunobiology (Jun), 223(6-7): 460-465.
- Simon O, Yacoub R, Jain S, Tomaszewski JE, Sarder P. (2018) Multi-radial LBP Features as a Tool for Rapid Glomerular Detection and Assessment in Whole Slide Histopathology Images. Sci Rep (Feb), 8(1): 2032-2032.
- Bryniarski MA, Yee BM, Jaffri I, Chaves LD, Yu JA, Guan X, Ghavam N, Yacoub R, Morris ME. (2018) Increased Megalin Expression in Early Type 2 Diabetes: Role of Insulin Signaling Pathways. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol (Jan).
- Yacoub R, Nadkarni GN, Cravedi P, He JC, Delaney VB, Kent R, Chauhan KN, Coca SG, Florman SS, Heeger PS, Murphy B, Menon MC. (2018) Analysis of OPTN/UNOS Registry Suggests the Number of HLA Matches and Not Mismatches is a Stronger Independent Predictor of Kidney Transplant Survival. Kidney Int (Jan), 93(2): 482-490.
- Yacoub R, Nugent M, Cai W, Nadkarni GN, Chaves LD, Abyad S, Honan AM, Thomas SA, Zheng W, Valiyaparambil SA, Bryniarski MA, Sun Y, Buck M, Genco RJ, Quigg RJ, He JC, Uribarri J. (2017) Advanced Glycation End Products Dietary Restriction Effects on Bacterial Gut Microbiota in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients; a Randomized Open Label Controlled Trial. PLoS One (Sep), 12(9): 0184789-0184789.
- Chuang PY, Cai W, Li X, Fang L, Xu J, Yacoub R, He JC, Lee K. (2017) Reduction in podocyte SIRT1 accelerates kidney injury in aging mice. American journal of physiology. Renal physiology (Sep), 313(3): F621-F628. doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00255.2017
- Yacoub R, PY Chuang, W. Cai, X. Li, JC He, K. Lee,. (2017) Reduction in Podocyte SIRT1 Accelerates Kidney Injury in Aging Mice. Am. J. Physiol Renal Phisiol. (Jun).
- Ginley B, Tomaszewski JE, Yacoub R, Chen F, Sarder P. (2017) Unsupervised Labeling of Glomerular Boundaries Using Gabor Filters and Statistical Testing in Renal Histology. J Med Imaging (Bellingham) (Apr), 4(2): 021102-021102.
- Yacoub R, CW Wyatt. (2017) Manipulating the Gut Microbiome to Decrease Uremic Solutes. Kidney International (Mar)521-523.
- Ginley, B, Tomaszewski JE, Yacoub R, Chen F, Sarder P. (2017) Unsupervised Labeling of Glomerular Boundaries Using Gabor Filters and Statisical Testing in Renal Histology. epub (Feb).
- Yacoub R, Wyatt CM. (2017) Manipulating the Gut Microbiome to Decrease Uremic Toxins. Kidney Int (Jan), 91(3): 521-523.
- Mallipattu SK, Guo Y, Revelo MP, Roa-Peña L, Miller T, Ling J, Shankland SJ, Bialkowska AB, Ly V, Estrada C, Jain MK, Lu Y, Ma'ayan A, Mehrotra A, Yacoub R, Nord EP, Woroniecki RP, Yang VW, He JC. (2017) Krüppel-Like Factor 15 Mediates Glucocorticoid-Induced Restoration of Podocyte Differentiation Markers. J Am Soc Nephrol (Jan), 28(1): 166-184.
- Yacoub R, S. Mallipattu, L. Roa, T. Miller, J. Ling, M. Revelo, Y. Lu, A. Ma‘ayan, A. Mehrotra, A. Bialkowska, E. Nord, R. Woroniecki, V. Yang, JC. He. (2017) Kruppel-like Factor 15 Mediates Glucocorticoid-induced Podocyte Differentiation. J Am Soc Nephrol. (Jan)166-184.
- Nadkarni GN, Simoes PK, Patel A, Patel S, Yacoub R, Konstantinidis I, Kamat S, Annapureddy N, Parikh CR, Coca SG. (2016) National Trends of Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Dialysis in Decompensated Cirrhosis Hospitalizations in the United States. Hepatol Int (May), 10(3): 525-531.
- Yacoub R, Nadkarni GN, Weikum D, Konstantinidis I, Boueilh A, Grant RM, Mugwanya KK, Baeten JM, Wyatt CM. (2016) Elevations in Serum Creatinine With Tenofovir-Based HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (Apr), 71(4): 115-118.
- Patel AA, Mahajan A, Benjo A, Pathak A, Kar J, Jani VB, Annapureddy N, Agarwal SK, Sabharwal MS, Simoes PK, Konstantinidis I, Yacoub R, Javed F, El Hayek G, Menon MC, Nadkarni GN. (2016) A Nationwide Analysis of Outcomes of Weekend Admissions for Intracerebral Hemorrhage Shows Disparities Based on Hospital Teaching Status. Neurohospitalist (Apr), 6(2): 51-58.
- Yacoub R, Kaji D, Patel SN, Simoes PK, Busayavalasa D, Nadkarni GN, He JC, Coca SG, Uribarri J. (2016) Association between Probiotic and Yogurt Consumption and Kidney Disease: Insights from NHANES. Nutr J (Jan), 15: 10-10.
- Nadkarni GN, Patel A, Simoes PK, Yacoub R, Annapureddy N, Kamat S, Konstantinidis I, Perumalswami P, Branch A, Coca SG, Wyatt CM. (2016) Dialysis-requiring Acute Kidney Injury Among Hospitalized Adults with Documented Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample Analysis. J Viral Hepat (Jan), 23(1): 32-38.
- Konstantinidis I, Nadkarni GN, Yacoub R, Saha A, Simoes P, Parikh CR, Coca SG. (2016) Representation of Patients With Kidney Disease in Trials of Cardiovascular Interventions: An Updated Systematic Review. JAMA Intern Med (Jan), 176(1): 121-124.
- Agarwal SK, Mohareb S, Patel A, Yacoub R, DiNicolantonio JJ, Konstantinidis I, Pathak A, Fnu S, Annapureddy N, Simoes PK, Kamat S, El-Hayek G, Prasad R, Kumbala D, Nascimento RM, Reilly JP, Nadkarni GN, Benjo AM. (2015) Systematic Oral Hydration with Water is Similar to Parenteral Hydration for Prevention of Contrast-induced Nephropathy: An Updated Meta-analysis of Randomised Clinical Data. Open Heart (Oct), 2(1): 000317-000317.
- Nadkarni GN, Yacoub R, Coca SG. (2015) Update on Glycemic Control for the Treatment of Diabetic Kidney Disease. Curr Diab Rep (Jul), 15(7): 42-42.
- Nadkarni GN, Patel A, Simoes PK, Yacoub R, Annapureddy N, Kamat S, Konstantinidis I, Perumalswami P, Branch A, Coca SG, Wyatt CM. (2015) Dialysis-requiring Acute Kidney Injury Among Hospitalized Adults with Documented Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample Analysis. J Viral Hepat (Jul).
- Agarwal SK, Nadkarni GN, Yacoub R, Patel AA, Jenkins JS, Collins TJ, Annapureddy N, Kumbala D, Bodana S, Benjo AM. (2015) Comparison of Cutting Balloon Angioplasty and Percutaneous Balloon Angioplasty of Arteriovenous Fistula Stenosis: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Interv Cardiol (Jun), 28(3): 288-295.
- Nadkarni GN, Patel AA, Yacoub R, Benjo AM, Konstantinidis I, Annapureddy N, Agarwal SK, Simoes PK, Kamat S, Menon MC, Wyatt CM. (2015) The Burden of Dialysis-requiring Acute Kidney Injury Among Hospitalized Adults with HIV Infection: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample Analysis. AIDS (Jun), 29(9): 1061-1066.
- Yacoub R, Campbell KN. (2015) Inhibition of RAS in Diabetic Nephropathy. Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis (Apr), 8: 29-40.
- Li X, Chuang PY, D'Agati VD, Dai Y, Yacoub R, Fu J, Xu J, Taku O, Premsrirut PK, Holzman LB, He JC. (2015) Nephrin Preserves Podocyte Viability and Glomerular Structure and Function in Adult Kidneys. J Am Soc Nephrol (Feb).
- Nadkarni GN, Konstantinidis I, Patel A, Yacoub R, Kumbala D, Patel RA, Annapureddy N, Pakanati KC, Simoes PK, Javed F, Benjo AM. (2015) Trimetazidine Decreases Risk of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther (Feb).
- Yacoub R, Lee K, He JC. (2014) The Role of SIRT1 in Diabetic Kidney Disease. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) (Oct), 5: 166-166.
- Chuang PY, Xu J, Dai Y, Jia F, Mallipattu SK, Yacoub R, Gu L, Premsrirut PK, He JC. (2014) In Vivo RNA Interference Models of Inducible and Reversible Sirt1 Knockdown in Kidney Cells. Am J Pathol (Jul), 184(7): 1940-1956.
- Yacoub R, Patel N, Lohr JW, Rajagopalan S, Nader N, Arora P. (2013) Acute kidney injury and death associated with renin angiotensin system blockade in cardiothoracic surgery: a meta-analysis of observational studies. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation (Dec), 62(6): 1077-86.
- Nassar E, Yacoub R, Raad D, Hallman J, Novak J. (2013) Foreign Body Endoscopy Experience of a University Based Hospital. Gastroenterology Res (Feb), 6(1): 4-9.
- Yacoub R, Lohr JW, Rajagopalam S, Patel N, Nader ND, Aurora P. (2013) Acute Kidney Injury and Death Associated with Renin-Angiotensin System Blockade in Cardiothoracic Surgery: A Meta-analysis of Observational Studies. Am J Kidney Dis. (Jan), S0272(13): 00821-00824.
- Al Ustwani O, Iancu D, Yacoub R, Iyer R. (2012) Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells in Cancers of Biliary Origin. J Gastrointest Oncol (Jun), 3(2): 97-104.
- Kumar R, Brar J, Yacoub R, Khan T, Zachariah M, Venuto R. (2012) Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors After Renal Transplantation: A Step Towards Reducing Graft Failure. Transplant Proc (Jun), 44(5): 1270-1274.
- Yacoub R, Akl NK. (2011) Urinary Tract Infections and Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Renal Transplant Recipients. J Glob Infect Dis (Oct), 3(4): 383-389.
- Yacoub R, Habib H, Lahdo A, Al Ali R, Varjabedian L, Atalla G, Kassis Akl N, Aldakheel S, Alahdab S, Albitar S. (2010) Association Between Smoking and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case Control Study. BMC Public Health (Nov), 10: 731-731.
- Yacoub R, Al Ali R, Moukeh G, Lahdo A, Mouhammad Y, Nasser M. (2010) Hepatitis B Vaccination Status and Needlestick Injuries among Healthcare Workers in Syria. J Glob Infect Dis (Jan), 2(1): 28-34.
- Moukeh G, Yacoub R, Fahdi F, Rastam S, Albitar S. (2009) Epidemiology of Hemodialysis Patients in Aleppo City. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl (Jan), 20(1): 140-146.
- Panesar M, Yacoub R. (1900) What is the role of renal transplantation in a patient with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis?. Seminars in dialysis (Jan), 24(4): 373-4.
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