Moumita Barua
MD
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Dr. Moumita Barua is a clinician scientist at University Health Network, Senior Scientist at Toronto General Research Institute and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Her mission is to improve diagnostics and clinical outcomes in patients with glomerular diseases.
Research synopsis
The starting point of our research is to perform genetic studies in adults with kidney disease using patient and population based cohorts. We then use our genetic discoveries to prioritize clinically relevant models, in which we study kidney disease mechanisms. Our overall objective is to advance preclinical development of novel therapeutics.
The 3 main projects in the lab are:
- Genome-wide association studies of kidney traits - basic programming knowledge is an asset for this human based study
- Pax2 mediates kidney repair/regeneration - enthusiasm to work with mouse models is an asset
- Mechanisms in Alport syndrome - enthusiasm to work with mouse models is again an asset
We are looking for highly motivated trainees to join our supportive team to work on any one of these projects depending on applicant interests and strengths. Trainee career development is an important part of mentorship for the supervisor. Lab alumni have gone on to medical school, entered extremely competitive IMG residency programs and continued their research careers in academic institutions, industry and national organizations such as CIHI.
Selected publications
De Gregorio V, Barua M, Lennon R. Collagen Formation, Function and Role in Kidney Disease. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2025 Mar;21(3):200-215. (Trainee publication). Co-corresponding Author.
Caparali EB, De Gregorio V, Barua M. Genotype-Based Molecular Mechanisms in Alport Syndrome. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2025 Jan 29. In Press (Trainee publication). Senior Responsible Author.
Lona-Durazo F, Omachi K, Fermin D, Eichinger F, Troost JP, Lin MH, Dinsmore IR, Mirshahi T, Chang AR, Miner JH, Paterson AD, Barua M, Gagliano Taliun SA. Association of Genetically Predicted Skipping of COL4A4 Exon 27 with Hematuria and Albuminuria. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2025 Jan 1;36(1):48-59 (Trainee publication). Co-corresponding author.
Cunanan J, Rajyam S, Udwan K, Rana A, De Gregorio V, Ricardo S, Elia A, Brooks B, Weins A, Pollak M, John R, Barua M. Mice with a Pax2 Missense Variant Display Impaired Glomerular Repair. American Journal of Physiology - Renal. 2024 May 1;326(5):F704-726 (Trainee publication). Senior Responsible Author.
Gagliano Taliun SA, Dinsmore IR, Mirshahi T, Chang AR, Paterson AD, Barua M. GWAS of the Composite Outcome Hematuria and Albuminuria. Scientific Reports. 2023 Oct 16. Senior Responsible Author.
De Gregorio V, Caparali EB, Shojaei A, Ricardo S, Barua M. Alport Syndrome: Clinical Spectrum and Therapeutic Advances. Kidney Medicine. 2023 Mar 21;5(5) (Trainee publication). Senior Responsible Author.
Gagliano-Taliun S, Sulem P, Sveinbjornsson G, Gudbjartsson DF, Stefansson K, Paterson AD, Barua M. GWAS of Hematuria. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2022 Apr;17:672-683. Senior Responsible Author.
Appointments
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University Health Network
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
- Toronto General Research Institute
- Institute of Medical Science
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathology