Robert W. Schrier, M.D.

Career:

Captain/Major, United States Army Medical Corp, 1966-69

    Medicine-Renal Consultant, Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C.

    Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C.

University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, California

    Assistant Professor of Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Institute, 1969-72

    Associate Member of Cardiovascular Research Institute, 1970-72

    Associate Director of Renal Division, 1971-72

    Associate Professor of Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Institute, 1972

    Established Investigator of the American Heart Association, 1971-73

University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado

Professor of Medicine and Head, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, 1972%u201192

· Started with 2 faculty and no NIH research grants and grew to over 20 faculty and over $10 million in annual research grants.

· NIH Funding for over 35 years

· Renal Research Fellows - over 125 holding academic leadership positions

· 3 renal fellows - Presidents of the American Society of Nephrology

    Tomas Berl, MD, University of Colorado

    William Henrich, MD, University of Maryland

    Bruce Molitoris, MD, Indiana University

University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado

Professor and Chairman, Department of Medicine, 1976-2002

· Full-time faculty increased from approximately 75 to 500

· Annual research grants by the Department’s full-time faculty rose from approximately $3 to $100 million.

· Housestaff and fellow training programs became nationally prominent.

· 30 endowed research chairs between $1.5-2.0 million each were established.

· Established PhD in Clinical Science Program to provide health care professionals with rigorous training to become patient-oriented researchers.

· 7 faculty became Chairs of Departments of Medicine in the United States

· Residents trained under 26 years as Chair of Department of Medicine (approximately 800)

· Founded:

    Division of General Internal Medicine

    Division of Medical Oncology

    Division of Geriatric Medicine

    Division of Health Care Policy and Research

    Colorado Prevention Center

University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado

Professor of Medicine, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, 1972-present

· Founding Editor-in-Chief, Nature Clinical Practice Nephrology

Research and Contributions:

Vasopressin and Water Homeostasis

Dr. Schrier has been a pioneer in the research area of water and sodium homeostasis in health and disease for nearly 40 years. In a series of papers published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, he provided the experimental evidence for the non-osmotic, baroreceptor regulation of arginine vasopressin (AVP). He then proposed that the hyponatremic states associated with edematous disorders, mainly cardiac failure and cirrhosis, were due to the increased non-osmotic AVP stimulation. Using initially the radioimmunoassay for AVP, then a V2 receptor antagonist, he and his colleagues have provided the evidence to support this proposal. The first V2 vasopressin antagonist (aquaretic agent) is now available clinically for treating euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia. A recent series of experimental studies from Dr. Schrier's laboratory have also defined the molecular mechanisms of urinary concentration and dilution in the clinical disorders of water homeostasis in thyroid and adrenal diseases, as well as pregnancy.

Sodium and Body Fluid Volume Homeostasis

On the background of the AVP-related clinical studies, Dr Schrier extended his clinical research to body fluid volume regulation as determined by both sodium and water homeostasis. His body fluid volume hypothesis in which alterations in cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance or both primarily modulate renal sodium excretion in health and disease has been supported by numerous clinical investigations. Dr. Schrier received the John Peters Award from the American Society of Nephrology and the Jean Hamburger Award from the International Society of Nephrology for these biomedical research contributions in clinical medicine.

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Dr. Schrier has also been a pioneer in clinical studies relating to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), the most common life-threatening hereditary disease. He and his colleagues at the University of Colorado described the early onset of hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in ADPKD patients which involves increased stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). These findings have led to important therapeutic implications for early detection and treatment of hypertension and inhibition of the RAAS, particularly in reversing LVH. Since cardiovascular events are the major cause of death in ADPKD patients, and LVH is a major cardiovascular risk factor, these findings have had important clinical implications.

Diabetes Complications and Hypertension

Another area when Dr. Schrier has made important clinical research contributions has been as Principal Investigator of the Appropriate Blood Pressure Control (ABCD) study. Results from this seminal randomized ABCD study demonstrated the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition (ACEI), as compared to calcium channel blockers, in decreasing the incidence of myocardial infarctions in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients. In normotensive type 2 diabetic patients the results demonstrated that aggressive blood pressure control (< 130/80 mmHg) was shown to decrease the incidence of strokes and the progression of retinopathy and nephropathy.

Acute Kidney Injury

Dr. Schrier has also been a pioneer in the area of acute kidney injury. He and his colleagues have made major contributions to the understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of acute renal failure. For his contributions in this important clinical area Dr. Schrier has received the Louis Pasteur Award of the University of Strasburg and the Bywaters Award of the Acute Renal Failure Commission of the International Society of Medicine.

Honors and Awards:

DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana

    * Rector Scholar, 1953-57
    * Three-time All-Conference in basketball and baseball, 1954-57
    * Inland Steel Scholar, 1957
    * Scholar-Athlete Award, 1957
    * Athlete-of-the-Year, 1957
    * Guy Morrison Walker Cup - Outstanding Graduate as voted by senior class, 1957
    * Fulbright Scholar, Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany, 1957-58
    * Distinguished Alumni Award, 1980
    * Silver Anniversary Achievement Award, 1982
    * Athletic Hall of Fame, 1986
    * Distinguished Alumnae Award for Professional Achievement, 2001
    * Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, 2004

Indiana University School of Medicine

    *  Mosby Scholarship Award, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1962
    *  Merck, Sharp and Dohme Scholarship Award, Indiana University, 1962
    *  Alpha Omega Alpha, National Medical Honor Society, 1962
    * Indiana University School of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2002
    * Indianapolis Public Schools Alumni Hall of Fame, 2007

Honorary Degrees

    * DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, Doctor of Science (Hon), 1991
    * University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, Doctor of Science (Hon), 1996
    * Silesian Academy of Medicine, Katowice, Poland, Doctor of Science (Hon), 1997
    * Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, Doctor of Science (Hon), 2003