Darren Bridgewater

, PhD

Assistant Professor
Pathology and Molecular Medicine

Division: Anatomy

McMaster University
1R1B Health Sciences Centre
905-525-9140 ext. 20754
bridgew@mcmaster.ca

Assistant: Sharon Ralph

Currently Accepting Graduate Students
Currently Accepting Post-Doc Fellows

Education and Professional Standing

Post-doctoral research fellow, Developmental Biology, Division of Nephrology, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, (Toronto), 2009

PhD, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, UWO, 2004

Honors Bachelor of Science in Genetics, UWO, 1999

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Interests

Research Focus

More than 30,000 Canadians suffer from kidney failure and require renal replacement therapies such as dialysis or transplant to stay alive. A major contributing factor to end stage renal disease is abnormal kidney development, termed renal dysplasia. To date, the underlying molecular mechanisms required for proper kidney development and the factors that contribute to renal dysplasia are poorly defined.  My lab is interested in identifying the key regulators of these processes, thereby providing a better understanding of kidney disease.  

Specifically my laboratory is interested in 1) ß-catenin’s role in kidney development and disease and 2) the pathological mechanisms contributing to glomerular disease in patients with Schimke Immunoosseous Dysplasia (SIOD).

We do this by utilizing genetically altered mutant mice and human kidney tissue. A further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of these processes may be critical for the prevention and development of new treatments for kidney disease.

Academic Interests

My academic interests include teaching gross anatomy to McMaster medical students and teaching within the Bachelor of Health Sciences program. 

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Selected Publications

• Bridgewater D, DiGiovanni V, Cain J, Rosenblum N. Stabilization of Beta-catenin during kidney development causes dysplasia and overexpression of Tgfb2 and Dkk1. Journal of American Society of Nephrology, 2010.
• Cain JE, Islam E, Haxho F, Bridgewater D, Chen L, Nieuwenhuis E, Hui C, Rosenblum, ND. Gli3 Repressor is Required for Ureteric Tip Cell Differention. 2009 PLoS One Oct 7;4(10).2009.
• Bridgewater D, Rosenblun N. Stimulatory and Inhibitory Signaling Molecules Regulating Branching Morphogenesis. Pediatric Nephrology. 2009;24(9):1611-1619.
• Bridgewater D, Cox B, Cain J, Lau A, Athaide V, Rosenblum N. Canonical WNT/ beta-catenin Signaling is required for ureteric branching. Developmental Biology. 2008;317(1):83-94.
• Hartwig S, Bridgewater D, Mishina Y, Cain J, Rosenblum N. The BMP receptor ALK3 controls establishment and maintenance of primary ureteric bud patterning during kidney development. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2008;19:117-124.
• Bridgewater D, Butt M, Dionne J, Pin C, Matsell D. The role of the type I Insulin- like growth factor (IGF-IR) in glomerular integrity. Growth Hormone & IGF Research. 2008;(1): 26-37.
• Bridgewater DJ, Sauro V, Mok A, Matsell D. Insulin-like growth factors mediate fetal podocyte survival through a PI3 kinase-dependant pathway. Kidney International. 2005;67(4):1308-1314.
• Bridgewater DJ, Matsell DG. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein–2 modulates IGF-II on fetal podocyte maturation. Pediatric Nephrology. 2003;18:1109-1115.
• Bridgewater DJ, Mok A, Matsell DG. Expression of complement regulatory proteins in the developing human kidney. Pediatric Nephrology. 2000;15(1-2):36-42.