Vishal Patel

Vishal Patel, MBBS, is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, specializing in Nephrology. He holds membership in the Division of Nephrology and is recognized as a Physician-Scientist. His academic trajectory includes an MBBS from P S Medical College (India), residency at Northwestern University, and fellowship training at UT Southwestern. He joined UT Southwestern as an Assistant Instructor in 2008, advancing to Assistant Professor (2009), tenure-accruing Assistant Professor (2010), and Associate Professor with Tenure (2018). His research focuses on polycystic kidney disease (PKD), RNA therapeutics, and kidney genetics, with notable contributions including patents for PKD treatments and NIH-funded studies on primary cilia biology. Dr. Patel’s work bridges clinical nephrology and molecular medicine, emphasizing microRNA regulation in kidney pathogenesis.

Education

• MBBS, P S Medical College, India
• Internal Medicine Residency, Northwestern University, Chicago
• Clinical Nephrology Fellowship, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Research Interests

Dr. Patel’s lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying PKD, particularly the role of microRNAs in cyst formation and kidney dysfunction. His work explores RNA metabolism pathways, therapeutic oligonucleotides, and genetic modifiers of kidney disease. Recent studies highlight the interplay between primary cilia dysfunction, mTOR signaling, and metabolic pathways in cyst progression. His research also addresses translational applications, including miRNA-based therapies and biomarker development for PKD.

Advising & Grants

Supported by NIH grants as a Physician-Scientist, Dr. Patel has pioneered studies on miR-17 inhibition and mRNA stabilization for PKD. His patents for PKD treatments reflect clinical translation efforts. He collaborates extensively with nephrology teams and pharmaceutical partners to advance drug development.

Labs/Teams

Affiliated with the Division of Nephrology at UT Southwestern, he leads interdisciplinary projects involving geneticists, bioengineers, and clinicians to tackle kidney disease complexity.