The major research focus of my laboratory is on the use of modern molecular biology tools to better understand disease mechanism activated in human renal biopsies. We currently evaluate these novel tools for molecular diagnosis of kidney and transplant failure in international multicenter studies.The longstanding interest in my group has been on glomerular filtration barrier failure. Using cell and molecular biology approaches we have identified novel cell-matrix signaling molecules activated in glomerular failure. Intervening with their function might evolve into a novel therapeutic strategy and we are currently evaluate this approach with small molecule inhibitors in vitro and in vivo and in cell type specific knock out mice.