Srishti Sahu, MSc

2026 Predoctoral Fellowship Award

Institution: University of Montreal

Project Title: Deciphering Complement Pathway Activation Mechanisms in Childhood IgA Nephropathy

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

I study complement activation in pediatric IgA nephropathy to reduce reliance on invasive biopsies and help guide future targeted therapeutics.

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

Pediatric IgA nephropathy remains understudied, and the mechanisms driving disease development — especially the triggers of complement activation — are still unclear. Children often show more inflammatory kidney lesions and may progress faster than adults, suggesting important biological differences. This grant will allow me to perform mechanistic studies and profile complement biomarkers using high-throughput approaches such as proteomics. Together, these efforts will help clarify how pediatric IgA nephropathy differs from adult disease and map complement activation patterns that may support earlier diagnosis and more accurate risk stratification.

What inspired you to focus your research in this area?

I come from a biotechnology background, and during my PhD with Dr. Alexandra Cambier, a clinician-scientist, I discovered how much I value research that bridges basic mechanisms with clinical impact. Pediatric nephrology is meaningful, complex, and full of unanswered questions — exactly what motivates me. Complement biology adds an elegant layer with real therapeutic potential, making this field deeply inspiring.

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

Not only is pediatric IgA nephropathy underexplored, but children have far fewer targeted therapies than adults. I hope my work contributes to developing pediatric-specific diagnostics and treatments and helps advance complement-targeted clinical trials in children. Ultimately, I want to help clinicians make faster, clearer decisions and give families more certainty during a difficult diagnosis.

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

By the end of the grant, I hope to complete my PhD with strong expertise in high-throughput techniques and translational complement biology, while sharing my findings to contribute to the field. In five years, I see myself as a postdoctoral researcher studying complement-mediated kidney disease. In ten years, I aim to lead a research program focused on complement-based diagnostics and precision medicine.

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

Pediatric nephrology has limited visibility and small patient cohorts, which makes research especially challenging. Funding is also very tight, creating additional hurdles for early-career scientists who want to grow in this field.

Something you may not know about me is…

I am an engineer in biotechnology with a deep love for clinical science. From the moment I entered the field, I knew I wanted to work at the interface of basic and medical research, and I am grateful to have found a path that truly aligns with that passion. My research has taken me to international conferences, experiences that have shaped my scientific identity and broadened my perspective.

In my free time…

I enjoy traveling and walking in nature. I also love making scientific figures and doing anything that resets my mind and sparks creativity.