Christopher Chan graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto in 1995. After completing his post-graduate training in internal medicine and nephrology at the University of Toronto, he pursued further training in cardiovascular physiology. He joined the Division of Nephrology at the Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network in 2002. He is presently Director of the Division of Nephrology, Professor of Medicine and holds the R Fraser Elliott Chair in Home Dialysis. Dr. Chan is the Deputy Physician in Chief of Economics and the Medical Lead of Connected Care at the University Health Network. He also serves as Associate Editor for the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
He has contributed over 200 peer-reviewed articles and has written multiple book chapters in the field of home dialysis. His current research interests include the clinical, genomic physiological changes of intensive hemodialysis, cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease and sleep disorders in patients with end-stage renal disease. He has championed and defined clinical use of home dialysis, leading and coordinating a large network dedicated to the clinical and basic science aspects of optimal dialysis delivery. Dr. Chan have received multiple awards and was recently honored by Temetry Faculty of Medicine 2020 Dean’s Award for his leadership and impact on renal replacement therapy. (Honouring Impact: The 2020 Dean’s Alumni Awards | Faculty of Medicine (utoronto.ca).
“My main research themes include: (1) cardiovascular effects of nocturnal hemodialysis; (2) effects of uremia on bone marrow biology; and (3) tele-home technology.
My research activities relate to applied clinical research in the field of intensive hemodialysis. I have coordinated and led a network of research teams dedicated to examine the clinical and basic aspects of optimal dialysis delivery. Our research has led to the awareness and clinical application of nocturnal home hemodialysis for patients with refractory hypertension and ventricular dysfunction (recommended by the Canadian Society of Nephrology clinical practice guideline and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus statement). We have investigated the impact of increased dialysis dose and frequency on anemia management and bone marrow biology. Our work has highlighted the interplay between kidney failure and bone marrow derived stem cells, which are not only required to produce red blood cells but also necessary to maintain vascular repair and regeneration. Through a fruitful collaborative network, our research team has also examined emerging e-Health technologies to assure quality and safety of remote complex care delivery. Most recently, our multi-site virtual ward proposal has received funding to test the utility of tele-home technology in vulnerable home dialysis patients during transitions of care.”