Kavita Mistry, MD, PhD

2026 Sharon Anderson Research Fellowship

Institution: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Project Title: Mechanisms of Acute Tubulointerstitial Nephritis in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Treated Patients

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

My research focus lies at the intersection of nephrology, immunology, and oncology, with a particular interest in kidney complications associated with cancer immunotherapy.

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

Although immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by unleashing the power of the immune system to fight cancer, its use is limited by the side effect of harmful inflammation in healthy tissues and organs. When this inflammation targets the kidneys, it causes acute interstitial nephritis (ICI-AIN). I will be using cutting-edge single cell sequencing technologies to gain insights into the initial events that lead to kidney inflammation in ICI-AIN. Ultimately, I hope that this research will advance both our mechanistic understanding of inflammatory kidney diseases, as well as patient care in onconephrology.

What inspired you to focus your research in this area?

For me, everything begins and ends with the patient. Caring for patients with kidney-related complications of cancer treatment has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and is the inspiration behind my research. I also enjoy learning new skills and techniques, and working in a lab that has expertise in multiomics and immunology gives me the opportunity to learn something new every day!

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

The ultimate goal of my work is to inform the development of non-invasive tests for ICI-AIN that can be used in the diagnosis of patients in the clinic, and to facilitate improved treatments for ICI-AIN that have fewer side effects on patients as they undergo cancer treatment.

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

My long-term goal is to run my own translational research program while continuing to care for patients with kidney disease and cancer. The mentorship that I've received from outstanding physician-scientists throughout my career, and particularly my current mentors who are accomplished women leaders in the field, has been instrumental in shaping my career goals.

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

One of the biggest challenges in scientific research today is bridging the gap between scientific discovery and public trust. Even the most impactful research can only reach its full potential if the general public understands and believes in the value of science. As young physician-scientists, we have a responsibility not only to conduct meaningful research, but also to communicate our work clearly and to engage with the community more actively than has traditionally been done.

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

My advice would be to take the chance and apply! Applying for grants can be very intimidating, but these opportunities are designed to support young investigators. Even the application process itself can help you to clarify your research aims, to learn how to better communicate your ideas, and to strengthen your future work.

Something you may not know about me is…

I majored in English in college, which means that I spent many cozy evenings as an undergraduate curled up in the library, reading novels and writing poetry for my classes.

In my free time I like to…

take photo walks around my neighborhood, snapping pictures with my mirrorless camera (a relatively new hobby of mine!)