Taylor C. Kress, PhD

2026 KidneyCure Research Fellowship

Institution: Duke University

Project Title: Cooperative Actions of RelA and Twist1 to Disrupt Hypertension Pathogenesis

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

My research focuses on the role the immune system plays in renal injury and sodium retention ultimately resulting in elevated blood pressure.

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

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide with hypertension being a key independent risk factor for CV and kidney disease. My research focuses on RelA in antigen presenting cells and how despite being a part of the pro-inflammatory NF-κB signalosome actually constrains blood pressure elevation. We hypothesize this is done through the co-localization between RelA and another protein, TWIST1. While these proteins are shown to co-localize in fibroblasts to constrain inflammation, the role of RelA-TWIST1 in antigen presenting cells and the resulting effect blood pressure has not been investigated and is the primary focus of this study.

What inspired you to focus your research in this area?

I have a family history of cardiovascular disease and as hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease I decided to devote my professional life to it. In graduate school I studied the vascular mechanisms of hypertension, but in an effort to better my understanding of the disease I joined a renal physiology lab for renal techniques and mechanisms which contribute towards hypertension.

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

My goal is for this research to provide new avenues for anti-hypertensive therapies and treatments to lessen the burden of cardiovascular and renal disease on the already strained healthcare system. Outside of that, I am more than happy to simply contribute to the "cauldron" of scientific knowledge such that my studies may help guide other researchers' projects in the future.

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

At the end of the grant period my goal is to have this study published in a high impact journal and to leverage the publications and prestige of the Ben J. Lipps Research Fellowship to apply for a career transition grant. In five years I hope to be a tenure-track early career investigator setting up my hypertension lab and working tirelessly towards my first independent grant. At 10 years I hope to continue to thrive in academia.

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

Personally, I believe the challenges of beginning a career in nephrology research today are similar to the challenges of other disciplines. This includes increased difficulty receiving funding, higher level institutions requiring increased percentages to be covered by grants, and coming up with a constant influx of novel ideas. In addition, academia has a tendency to be demoralizing at times and keeping faith in yourself and not getting discouraged can turn into the biggest challenge.

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

Work hard and apply! You'll never get a grant or get better at writing them if you don't apply!

Something you may not know about me is…

My choice of graduate school may or may not have been influenced by the proximity of the school to Augusta National Golf Course…

In my free time I like to…

Golf, cook, spend time outdoors, watch TV shows, and go to concerts.