Sumit R Monu, PhD, DVM

Biographical Statement

I am formally trained in physiology and pharmacology, with extensive knowledge and experience in cardiovascular, metabolic, and renal research. My journey in heart and kidney research began during my Ph.D. studies, where I investigated the role of the heme oxygenase antioxidant system in mitigating myocardial infarction, cardio-renal syndrome, and obesity-related complications. Following my doctoral training, I joined the Hypertension and Vascular Research Division at Henry Ford Health in Detroit for my postdoctoral studies in Dr. Oscar Carretero's laboratory. Continuing my interest in renal physiology, I focused on studying alterations in single-nephron renal hemodynamics in preclinical models of obesity, pre-diabetes, and unilateral nephrectomy.

During this time, I received specialized training in in vivo renal micropuncture—a gold-standard technique used to measure renal hemodynamics and tubuloglomerular feedback at the single-nephron level. Mastery of this highly specialized technique required nearly 1.5 years of intensive training, and currently, only a handful of laboratories (3–5 worldwide) are capable of performing it. After developing expertise in this area, I expanded my research to explore not only the classic tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism but also a recently identified feedback system known as connecting tubule–glomerular feedback.

At present, I aim to leverage my expertise in renal hemodynamics and in vivo micropuncture techniques to investigate how renal hemodynamic alterations contribute to kidney disease, particularly in the context of obesity and diabetes. Specifically, I am examining the role of insulin in modulating the connecting tubule–glomerular feedback mechanism and its impact on overall renal function and injury. Additionally, I have initiated studies to understand how bariatric surgery influences renal hemodynamics in the setting of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.

Titles

• Assistant Scientist, Henry Ford Hospital/Hypertension and Vascular Research Division
• Assistant Professor (FTA), Wayne State University/Department of Physiology

Awards & Honors

• Career Development Award, American Heart Association (2024)
• Institutional Mentored Scientist Grant, Henry Ford Health System (2018)
• Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics (M3C Pilot and Feasibility Projects) funded by National Institute of Health 2021-2022
• First Author spotlight, American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, March,2022. Distinction in scholarship in the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology for this article. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajprenal.2022.322.4.AU
• Council on Hypertension award. Onsite poster competition winner (Prize-400$), American Heart Association,2019
• Scientific Merit Oral Presentation, Annual Research Symposium, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan. USA, Henry Ford Hospital, 2019
• Council on Hypertension New Investigator Award. American Heart Association, Orlando, Florida. USA, American Heart Association, 2018
• Best Poster Award, Annual Henry Ford Research Health Symposium (First Prize), Detroit, Michigan. USA, Henry Ford Hospital, 2017
• Kidney Council New Investigator award, American Heart Association, 2016
• Best Poster Award, Annual Henry Ford Research Health Symposium (First Prize), Detroit, Michigan, 2015