bio: York Pei, MD, FRCP(C), FACP, FASN, is a Professor of Medicine from the Division of Nephrology at the University of Toronto; a Senior Scientist from the Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; and the Director of the Centre for Innovative Management of Polycystic Kidney Disease, University Health Network.
His research has mainly focused on identifying the genetic factors involved in the initiation or progression of genetic kidney diseases as a target for developing novel diagnostic tests and therapies. His research program focuses on genetic, genomic, and translational research of hereditary kidney diseases with a major focus on autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). He also made important contributions to genetic research of other hereditary kidney diseases, including familial IgA nephropathy, familial nephrotic syndrome, and Alport syndrome. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles, has collaborated widely with researchers nationally and internationally, and has trained numerous clinical and research fellows in hereditary kidney disease.
He founded the Centre for Innovative Management for Polycystic Kidney Disease in 2015 which provides advanced diagnostic and novel therapeutics for ADPKD. More than 500 patients are currently followed or co-managed at the centre with over 95% of them involved in at least one research project.
Dr. Pei was the co-recipient of the Lillian Jean Kaplan International Prize for polycystic kidney disease in 2019 and the recipient of the Medal for Research Excellence by the Kidney Foundation of Canada in 2020.s
interest: The major theme of Dr. Pei's research program is to identify genetic factors involved in the initiation or progression of common kidney diseases, as potential targets for developing novel diagnostic tests and therapies. His research focuses on genetic, genomic and translational research of several hereditary kidney disorders including autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, IgA nephropathy and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, and is supported by grants from the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Physicians Incorporated Foundation, and Canadian Institutes of Health Research.