Yangua Wang, PhD, receives KidneyCure’s 2021 Carl W. Gottschalk Research Scholar Grant

The Department of Medicine is pleased to announce that Yangua “Anna” Wang, PhD, a researcher in the Division of Renal Medicine, is the recipient of KidneyCure’s 2021 Carl W. Gottschalk Research Scholar Grant for her project, “Roles of Aldosterone and Phosphatases in Vasopressin Escape.” KidneyCure grants recognize investigators making vital contributions to the understanding of kidney diseases and advancing patient care.

Wang is part of the Transition to Independence Grants Program, which helps young investigators achieve independent research careers and is supported by contributions provided by ASN, Akebia Therapeutics, Inc., and individual donors. Read the below interview with Wang, featured on the KidneyCure website.

---

How would you sum up your research in one sentence?
My research interest focuses on the cellular mechanisms underlying vasopressin escape.

Provide a brief overview of the research you will conduct with help from the grant.
I will investigate the role of aldosterone in regulating AQP2 during vasopressin escape. I will further examine whether aldosterone acts through calcineurin to mediate vasopressin escape and phosphatases act upon phosphorylated residues in AQP2 to regulate water transport.

What inspired you to focus your research in this area?
Quite a few of my family members suffer from diabetes and have developed kidney disorders, which inspired me to conduct renal research.

What impact do you hope your research will have on patients?
My research may yield fundamental new insights into mechanisms by which phosphatases contribute to the regulation of body water homeostasis, which is beneficial in treating hyponatremia in patients.

What has surprised you most about your career?
I am surprised by my potential to be a successful scientist. In the beginning, I struggled against cultural and language barriers but was still able to find success.

In one sentence, please describe the importance of having grant funding available through KidneyCure.
The ASN Transition to Independence Grant Program will allow me to obtain the training in Nephrology research I need in order to facilitate my transition to an independent investigator.

Something you may not know about me is…
I am an easygoing person.

In my free time I like to…
Hike.