Ellen T. McCarthy, MD

Professional Background

Associate Professor
Kidney Institute – Faculty
School of Medicine, Internal Medicine

Creighton University - Medical School

University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics - Residency

University of Kansas Medical Center - Fellowship

Research

Overview

Research Interests
Dr. Ellen McCarthy has studied glomerular function in health and disease since 1992. She is particularly interested in the protein permeability barrier of the glomerulus, and the role played by various eicosanoids and cytokines in its function. She has received NIH funding to study the role of eicosanoids of the cyclooxygenase pathway as well as more recently the cytochrome P450 pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. She is currently investigating the role of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) in glomerular function in health and disease. Along with glomerular function, she studies podocyte pathophysiology and the contribution of this cell type to the permeability barrier. She is an active participant in research studying the identity and properties of a circulating substance found in patients with recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). As a clinician, she moves from bench to bedside through her participation in several NIH-funded clinical trials of therapeutic interventions in FSGS.

Clinical Interests
Dr. McCarthy maintains an active clinical practice, both inpatient consultations as well as outpatient clinic. She sees general nephrology patients, as well as those with proteinuric glomerular diseases. She is medical director of the dialysis unit associated with the division and hospital, and participates in the DOPPS study, and international study involving practice patterns at dialysis units.