Courtney Giannini, MD, PhD

2026 Donald E. Wesson Research Fellowship

Institution: University of Colorado

Project Title: Large Scale Discovery of Novel Gene Environment Interactions in Pediatric and Adult Chronic Kidney Disease

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

My research focuses on discovering gene-environment interactions in chronic kidney disease, where environmental exposures may modify an individual's risk of disease.

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

I will use large cohort datasets and novel statistical genetics methods to identify gene-environment interactions that influence chronic kidney disease risk. My work is entirely computational.

What inspired you to focus your research in this area?

My background in environmental impact on disease started during my PhD, which was in environmental epidemiology. In clinical practice, I was struck by the substantial inter-individual variation in phenotypes among patients with the same underlying genetic mutations. I became increasingly interested in how genetics influences kidney disease management as genetic testing becomes more integrated into clinical practice. I found that relatively little is known about gene-environment interactions in kidney disease, and I wanted to combine my interests in genetics and environmental health to better understand these relationships.

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

I hope my research will help enable more personalized interventions for patients with chronic kidney disease that can slow disease progression.

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

By the end of the grant period, I hope to substantially strengthen my skills in statistical genetics and gene-environment interaction analysis. Five years out, I hope to lead an independent research program focused on personalized approaches to chronic kidney disease. Ten years out, I hope to be an established physician-scientist conducting impactful translational research that improves outcomes for patients with kidney disease.

What are the major challenges to beginning a career in nephrology research today?

Funding can be highly competitive and challenging when establishing a new research career. In pediatric research, limited sample size is also a major challenge, particularly in genomics research where large numbers of participants are often required. On the positive side, the pediatric nephrology research community is highly collaborative and very welcoming to early-career investigators.

In one sentence, please describe the importance of having grant funding available through KidneyCure.

This funding will provide a crucial stepping stone as I transition from fellowship to junior faculty and begin building my independent research program.

What advice would you give to others to encourage them to apply for this grant funding?

Strong mentorship is key to success. Don't be afraid to seek mentorship outside your institution, even if someone is not a formal mentor on your grant, additional perspectives and guidance can be incredibly valuable.

Something you may not know about me is…

Something you may not know about me is that my father was an epidemiologist and inspired me to become one as well.

In my free time I like to…

Outside of work, I enjoy hiking and camping in the Colorado mountains, exploring Denver parks with my toddler, and staying active through OrangeTheory classes.