Alfonso Eirin Massat

Alfonso Eirin Massat, M.D., is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Associate Consultant II at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He holds dual appointments in the Division of Nephrology & Hypertension within the Department of Internal Medicine and in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. His research is centered on chronic kidney disease (CKD), with a focus on regenerative mechanisms involving stem cells and mitochondrial biology.

• Academic Rank: Associate Professor of Medicine
• Institution: Mayo Clinic
• Departments: Internal Medicine (Nephrology & Hypertension), Cardiovascular Medicine
• Research Focus: Stem cells, mitochondria, regenerative therapy, CKD, renovascular disease

Dr. Eirin Massat's research investigates the role of stem cells in renal repair, particularly how mitochondrial function and integrity regulate stem cell viability, plasticity, and regenerative capacity. His work explores how mitochondrial damage in conditions like obesity and metabolic syndrome impairs mesenchymal stem cell function and contributes to kidney and cardiovascular injury. He develops novel mitoprotective therapeutic interventions and studies extracellular vesicles as potential tools for regenerative medicine. His laboratory employs advanced techniques including 3D electron microscopy, mitochondrial functional analysis, and molecular studies of microRNA regulation.

The most recent articles highlight a consistent research trajectory centered on mitochondrial dysfunction in stem cells, the impact of obesity and metabolic syndrome on regenerative capacity, and the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles in kidney and cardiovascular diseases. His work bridges nephrology and cardiovascular medicine, emphasizing the interconnectedness of renal and cardiac pathophysiology in chronic diseases.

Scientific awards and funding include:

• Research grant from Regenerative Medicine Minnesota (2021–2023) for a project on mitochondria-related microRNAs in obesity-induced MSC dysfunction.

Dr. Eirin Massat has mentored or collaborated on numerous research projects, though specific advisees are not listed in the provided texts. His work has been supported by institutional and external funding, contributing to the development of novel diagnostic biomarkers (e.g., urinary mitochondrial DNA) and regenerative therapies. He is actively involved in translational research aimed at improving patient care in chronic kidney and cardiovascular diseases.

His laboratory is part of Mayo Clinic’s broader research ecosystem, collaborating with teams in regenerative medicine, cardiovascular imaging, and metabolic disease. He is affiliated with the Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics and conducts studies using sophisticated preclinical models of renal artery stenosis and metabolic syndrome.