Rate My Professor Ariel Gomez

The research in Dr. Gomez's laboratory centers on the mechanisms that govern the identity, plasticity, lineage, and fate of renin-expressing cells, which are essential for kidney vascular development, blood pressure regulation, and fluid-electrolyte homeostasis through the renin-angiotensin system. Utilizing lineage tracing in genetically engineered mice expressing cre recombinase from the renin locus, his team has shown that renin cells derive from Foxd1+ mesenchymal progenitors and function as precursors for renal arteriolar smooth muscle cells, pericytes, mesangial cells, and certain tubular epithelial cells, as well as extrarenal cells. Major discoveries include cAMP pathway-mediated chromatin remodeling via histone acetylation at the renin promoter, critical roles of histone acetyltransferases CBP and p300, Notch signaling through RBP-J for vascular differentiation, and unique renin cell microRNAs (miR-330 and miR-125b-5p). Recent work addresses renin progenitors in bone marrow and vascular effects of renin-angiotensin system inhibition. Representative publications are "Renin Cells, the Kidney, and Hypertension" (Circulation Research, 2021), "Genes that confer the identity of the renin cell" (Kidney International, 2011), and "Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system causes concentric thickening of intrarenal arteries" (JCI Insight, 2024). Awards include the NHLBI MERIT Award (2011), University of Virginia Distinguished Scientist Award (2015), and NIH P50 grants totaling over $7.5 million (2022 and 2024). His contributions have advanced understanding of pediatric kidney disease, hypertension pathogenesis, and regenerative potential.