Fredric Coe

Fredric Coe is a Professor in the Department of Medicine-Nephrology at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. With a career spanning over six decades, Dr. Coe has established himself as a leading authority in the field of nephrology, particularly in the study of kidney stone formation and treatment.

Dr. Coe received his BA in Liberal Arts (1955), BS in Biology (1957), and MD (1961) from the University of Chicago. He completed his medical residency at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago (1965) and a fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas (1969).

Dr. Coe's research primarily focuses on the pathophysiology of kidney stone formation, with particular emphasis on calcium metabolism, renal physiology, and urolithiasis. His pioneering work on Randall's plaque has fundamentally changed our understanding of how calcium-based kidney stones form. His investigations into the mechanisms of calcium oxalate crystallization, idiopathic hypercalciuria, and the metabolic connections to stone disease have shaped modern approaches to stone prevention and treatment. Recent work explores precision medicine applications, immune responses in stone disease, and racial disparities in kidney stone risk factors.

Analysis of Dr. Coe's extensive publication record reveals an evolution from foundational biochemical studies of crystal inhibitors in the 1980s to sophisticated molecular and genomic investigations in recent years. His current research demonstrates continued innovation with spatial transcriptomics to map kidney stone pathology and investigate the relationship between metabolic conditions like insulin resistance and stone formation.

Dr. Coe has received numerous professional recognitions for his contributions to nephrology and urology, with his seminal 1992 New England Journal of Medicine review on kidney stone pathogenesis having been cited over 150 times. His work continues to influence clinical guidelines and research directions in the field of nephrolithiasis.

Throughout his career, Dr. Coe has maintained a robust research program with extensive collaborations, most notably with Dr. Elaine Worcester. His work has been supported by multiple grants that have enabled comprehensive investigations into kidney stone pathogenesis, prevention strategies, and treatment approaches. He has mentored generations of researchers and clinicians in the field of nephrolithiasis.

Dr. Coe leads or is a key member of a multidisciplinary research team at the University of Chicago that includes nephrologists, urologists, basic scientists, and engineers. This team utilizes advanced techniques including micro-CT imaging, proteomics, and spatial transcriptomics to investigate the complex mechanisms of kidney stone disease and develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies.