Research

The Stanford Kidney Stone Clinic is staffed by faculty and fellow trainees who also pursue basic, clinical, and translational approaches to the study of kidney stone disease. This work has been generously funded by the National Institute of Health, Veterans Health Administration, Stanford University, and philanthropy from our patients.

Basic Research

We use cultured kidney cells and transgenic mice to discover fundamental aspects for how the kidneys control salt, water, and electrolyte homeostasis and to evaluate the molecular mechanisms underlying risk for kidney stone disease.
 
Publications and current projects include the following:
 
  • role of the gut microbiome in controlling uric acid and oxalate homeostasis
  • pathogenesis of low urine citrate excretion (hypocitraturia)
  • relationship between urine citrate excretion and bone mineralization
  • development of small molecule inhibitors for treatment of hypocitraturia
  • pathogenesis of calcium oxalate stone formation (Randall plaque formation)

Clinical Research

We use electronic health record data (e.g., Veterans Health Administration, US Renal Data System, and Nationwide Emergency Department Sample) to evaluate health care delivery to patients with kidney stone disease and to identify patients with kidney stone disease who are also at risk for bone disease (e.g., osteoporosis).
 
Publications and current projects include the following:
 
  • geography of prevalence of kidney stone disease
  • diagnostic testing for patients with kidney stone disease (e.g., 24-hour urine testing or radiologic imaging)
  • screening for primary hyperparathyroidism
  • diagnosis and management of bone disease in patients with kidney stone disease
  • incidence of kidney stone events in kidney transplant recipients

Translational Research

We use human plasma and urine samples from clinical trials to advance dietary and medical interventions to prevent kidney stone recurrence. 

Publications and current projects include the following:

  • proper dosing of alkali to women and men with and without chronic kidney disease
  • urinary response to consuming plant-based meat alternative: implications for kidney stone disease prevention
  • evaluation of alkali supplements for kidney stone prevention

National Imaging Trends for Suspected Urinary Stone Disease in the Emergency Department

Hypocitraturia and the Risk of Bone Disease in Patients with Kidney Stone Disease 

Redefining the Stone Belt: Precipitation is Associated with Increased Risk of Urinary Stone Disease 

Publications

Ganesan C, Liu S, Montez-Rath M, Leppert JT, Pao AC. Clinical Outcomes after a Kidney Stone Event in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2024 Mar 14. doi: 10.2215/CJN.0000000000000451. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38480494.

Pao AC, Ganesan C. The Clinical Study of Kidney Stone Disease and the Value of Specificity. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2024 May 1;19(5):551-553. doi: 10.2215/CJN.0000000000000459. Epub 2024 Apr 17. PMID: 38629855; PMCID: PMC11108232.