Sunder Sims-Lucas, Ph.D.

  • Assistant Professor
  • Department of Pediatrics

Education & Training

  • Ph.D. in Kidney Development from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 2008
  • BSc. (Hons) in Kidney Development from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 2002
  • BSc. in Anatomy and Physiology from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 2001

Research Interest Summary

The role of the microvasculature and oxygenation in kidney development and disease.

Research Categories

Research Interests

Dr. Sims-Lucas’ research program interrogates the role of blood flow, oxygenation and endothelial progenitors in patterning developmental organs with a particular focus on the kidney and lung during development and disease. 

Formation of the vasculature is a critical developmental process that requires tightly regulated cellular and molecular processes. The developing kidney is a very vascular organ that receives approximately 20% of the total cardiac output. The peritubular capillaries surround the nephron tubules and play a critical role in reabsorption and electrolyte balance. Little is known about the various origins of the peritubular capillary network and the role of the peritubular capillaries in normal development and also during disease processes. His laboratory identified an endothelial progenitor in the kidney that is critical for kidney development and also limiting postnatal injury. Dr. Sims-Lucas’ robust program also interrogates the role of oxygenation and blood flow in patterning the formation of the kidney. His research is funded by an NIH grant as well as grants from the Diabetes Complications Consortium and by the Vascular Medicine Institute.

Representative Publications

Sims-Lucas, S., et al., Endothelial Progenitors Exist within the Kidney and Lung Mesenchyme. PloS one, 2013. 8(6): p. e65993.

Hum, S., et al., Ablation of the renal stroma defines its critical role in nephron progenitor and vasculature patterning. PLoS One, 2014. 9(2): p. e88400.

Rymer, C., et al., Renal blood flow and oxygenation drive nephron progenitor differentiation. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 2014.

Stolz, D.B. and S. Sims-Lucas, Unwrapping the origins and roles of the renal endothelium. Pediatr Nephrol, 2014.

Junttila, S., et al., Functional genetic targeting of embryonic kidney progenitor cells ex vivo. J Am Soc Nephrol, 2015. 26(5): p. 1126-37.

Rymer, C.C. and S. Sims-Lucas, In utero intra-cardiac tomato-lectin injections on mouse embryos to gauge renal blood flow. J Vis Exp, 2015(96).

Full List of Publications