Israni Lab @ UTMB Galveston

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Ajay K. Israni, MD, MS

Professor of Medicine & Division Chief of Nephrology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)

Transplant Nephrologist & Research Leader

R01-funded clinician–scientist with board certification in Nephrology; Director of the Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory at UTMB. Expertise in genetics, pharmacogenomics, and the microbiome’s role in transplantation. Former Medical Director and current Senior Staff at the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR).

Contributions to Science

Genetics & Pharmacogenomics in Transplantation

Explored associations between genetic variants (recipient and donor) and outcomes, informing precision dosing of immunosuppressants.

Clinical Kidney Phenotypes

Characterized acute rejection variation across centers and inflammation phenotypes in chronic allograft dysfunction, refining biopsy-based definitions.

Allocation Policy

Co-led research shaping national kidney and pancreas allocation, improving access and outcomes.

Health Equity

Studied disparities in access, adherence, and follow-up; identified barriers that inform interventions for minority transplant recipients in the United States and Globally.

Selected Publications
  1. Hariharan S, Israni A, Danovitch G. Long-term survival after kidney transplantation. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021;385(8):729–743.
  2. Khan MH, Onyeaghala GC, Rashidi A, Holtan SG, Khoruts A, Israni AK, Jacobson PA, Staley C. Fecal β-glucuronidase activity differs between hematopoietic cell and kidney transplantation… Gut Microbes. 2022;14(1).
  3. Mohamed ME, Saqr A, Onyeaghala G, … Israni AK, Jacobson PA. Simultaneous Prediction of AUC of Mycophenolic Acid and Metabolites… Ther Drug Monit. 2025 Apr 30. Online ahead of print.
  4. Mohamed ME, Saqr A, Al-Kofahi M, … Israni AK, Jacobson PA. Limited Sampling Strategies Fail to Accurately Predict MPA AUC… Ther Drug Monit. 2025;47(1):174–182.
  5. Oetting WS, Schladt DP, Guan W, … Israni AK*, Jacobson PA*. GWAS of Tacrolimus Concentrations in African American Kidney Transplant Recipients… Am J Transplant. 2016;16(2):574–82.
  6. Kamoun M, Holmes J, Israni A, … HLA-A amino acid polymorphism and delayed kidney allograft function. PNAS. 2008;105(48):18883–8.