The Urinary System Physiology Unit is jointly led by Dr Scott Wildman PhD and Dr Claire Peppiatt-Wildman PhD and has recently been joined by Dr Stephen Kelley PhD and Dr Ruey-Leng Loo PhD.

Research within the Group focuses on the local regulation of renal tubular transport mechanisms, and the regulation of the renal medullary blood flow. We also have an interest in urinary bladder epithelial cell signalling, in both health and disease.

We utilize the following experimental methodologies:

• Electrophysiological techniques (i.e. patch clamp recordings from cultured epithelial cells, and epithelial cells in situ using the isolated split-open tubule).
• Live tissue imaging (i.e. using a live kidney-slice model; pioneered in our laboratory).
• Molecular biology methods (i.e. immunocytochemistry, real-time PCR and Western blotting).
• Luminescence & fluorescence measurements.
• Confocal microscopy of live (in vitro and ex vivo) and fixed tissue.
• Isolated perfused tubule techniques (i.e. transepithelial voltage recordings and collections).
• Laser doppler flowmetry in vivo.

To the best of our knowledge we are one of a handful of laboratories world-wide that combine patch clamp recordings from cells in microdissected split-open renal tubules with related recordings from isolated perfused tubules; this is invaluable for investigating ion transport in renal tubules. Furthermore, we are the only laboratory in the world that images pericyte-mediated regulation of renal capillary diameter in situ.

For our latest laboratory images, news, current laboratory members (people; including collaborators), details of our latest renal tubular transport, renal microvasculature, and urothelial cell signalling research findings, and a list of research vacancies and useful links, follow the links above or to the right.