معرفی
Dr. Tomoko Takano is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and a Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) at the Glen site. She is affiliated with the Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program within the Centre for Translational Biology and the Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology at the MUHC.
Her research focuses on kidney barrier function and proteinuria (leakage of protein in urine), which is often the first manifestation of kidney disease. A particular emphasis is on podocytes - specialized cells with actin-based foot processes that form a critical component of the kidney's filtration barrier. By understanding how proteinuria develops, Dr. Takano aims to develop interventions that can stop proteinuria and arrest the progression of kidney failure. She also studies nephrotic syndrome, particularly in children, collaborating with national networks of pediatric kidney doctors to investigate the blood cells of affected children to find causes and potential cures.
Dr. Takano's work centers on Rho-GTPase signaling pathways and cytoskeleton dynamics in podocytes. Her research has revealed how Rac1 activation in podocytes induces nephrotic syndrome, how regulatory proteins like ARHGEF7(β-PIX) and CdGAP maintain podocyte architecture, and how mutations in genes like CD2AP cause focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Her recent work has uncovered autoimmune aspects of nephrotic syndrome, including the discovery of autoantibodies targeting nephrin and the identification of extrafollicular B-cell responses as a hallmark of the disease.
- Research interests: Nephrology, Kidney disease, Proteinuria, Podocyte biology, Rho-GTPases signaling, Cytoskeleton dynamics, Nephrotic syndrome
- Affiliations: McGill University, RI-MUHC, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program
- Contact: tomoko.takano@mcgill.ca
Her work bridges basic science with clinical applications, with significant implications for understanding and treating kidney diseases, particularly in children. The discovery of autoimmune mechanisms in nephrotic syndrome represents a paradigm shift in understanding this condition and may lead to novel targeted therapies.
