Jonathan Nelson, PhD

2025 Carl W. Gottschalk Research Scholar Grant

Institution: University of Southern California

Project Title: Defining the Physiological Actions of the Interstitium

How would you sum up your overall research focus in one sentence?

I study how kidney interstitial cells contribute to vital processes like blood filtration and blood pressure regulation, with the goal of advancing our understanding of kidney function and disease.

Provide a brief overview of the research you will conduct with help from the grant.

With support from this grant, I will use cutting-edge genetic and pharmacological tools to selectively activate distinct cell populations in the kidney and assess their impact on kidney function. This approach will offer new insight into how interstitial cells drive different aspects of kidney physiology and will lay the groundwork for the rational design of therapeutics to preserve kidney function in a wide variety of kidney diseases.

What inspired you to focus your research in this area?

Interstitial cell pathophysiology is central to nearly all forms of kidney disease, yet they remain one of the most understudied cell types in nephrology. Robert Star at NIDDK, aptly described the kidney interstitium as its 'dark matter.' I'm driven by the belief that the path to new therapies lies in exploring the unknown, and these mysterious cells may hold the key.

What impact do you hope your research will have on patients?

I hope my research on interstitial cells will advance our understanding of how kidney disease develops and progresses, paving the way for earlier detection, more effective interventions to slow or halt its course, and ultimately, the reversal of kidney damage thereby eliminating the need for dialysis or transplantation.

What are your career goals at the end of the grant period? Five years out? Ten years out?

By the end of this grant period, I aim to have firmly established a strong, independent research program, which has been made possible by support from KidneyCure. In five years, I hope the impact of my lab will be evident both in training the next generation of kidney scientists and in shaping new research directions within the field. Looking ahead ten years, I aspire for our discoveries to form the foundation for pharmaceutical innovation, driving the development of the next generation of kidney therapeutics for chronic kidney disease.

What has surprised you most about your career?

What has surprised me most is the people: the human side of science. I've been deeply inspired by mentors who believed in me during moments of doubt, and by mentees whose curiosity and drive continually push me to grow, both as a scientist and as a person.

What are the major challenges facing nephrology research today?

One of the major challenges in nephrology research is the early detection of kidney disease. Because it progresses silently, clinical signs like reduced eGFR often don't appear until over 50% of kidney tissue is already lost. To develop effective therapies, we must first understand the early molecular and cellular events that drive disease progression, well before clinical symptoms emerge.

Something you may not know about me is…

My first lab experience was in Sweden. Through the Trans-Atlantic Student Scientist Exchange Program (TASSEP), I spent a year of my undergraduate studies at Lund University, where I discovered that science is a truly universal language; one that transcends borders in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding that benefits everyone.

In my free time, I like to…

Cook adventurously and read poetry. One recipe that has stayed with me is "Khoresh Rivas" which I found in the NYT cooking section. This Persian dish transformed my imagination for how rhubarb and herbs could be synergized together into a savory dish. For poetry, I recently read, "Bees, and after" by John Liles and was intoxicated by his poetic perspective of the natural world. Highlights for me were, "The steady state" and "Among others".