Jing (Jason) O. Wu, PhD

2026 Norman and Sandra Coplon Research Scholar Grant

Institution: The University of Arizona

Project Title: Determinants of PFAS Nephrotoxicity and Elimination in Chronic Kidney Disease

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

Research in my laboratory focuses adaptive immunity, hemodynamics, and gene-environment interactions in hypertension and chronic kidney disease.

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

This grant will support studies investigating the mechanistic link between PFAS exposure and chronic kidney disease, defining immune and sex determinants of PFAS nephrotoxicity, and uncovering new pathways driving renal fibrosis.

What inspired you to focus your research in this area?

Although serum PFAS levels have been associated with kidney dysfunction in epidemiological studies, causality has not been established and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

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

I hope this work will identify therapeutic targets and biomarkers that enable precision strategies to reduce PFAS-related kidney disease risk.

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

My immediate goal is to develop a competitive R01 proposal based on findings generated through this ASN grant. Within five years, I aim to secure tenure, and within ten years, I hope to establish myself as a leader in environmental physiology and renal medicine.

What has surprised you most about your career?

My research on PFAS began as a side project but has evolved into the primary focus of my laboratory.

What are the major challenges facing nephrology research today?

One major challenge is shifting the field from managing end-stage kidney disease to emphasizing earlier intervention and prevention, particularly during a period of declining research funding and fewer new investigators entering the field.

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

KidneyCure provides critical breathing room as I pursue my first R01 during this challenging period for federal research funding.

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

The ASN TIG mechanism is both applicant-friendly and scientifically rigorous, and I strongly encourage all eligible early-stage investigators to apply.

Something you may not know about me is…

I teach renal physiology to undergraduate, graduate, and medical students.

In my free time, I like to…

Hike, ride a bike, and watch or play basketball.