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photo Cary Boyd-Shiwarski, MD, PhD

Renal-Electrolyte

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Email: boydcr@upmc.edu

Phone: 412-647-3118
Contact
Office: A919 Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
 
Phone: 412-647-3118
Fax: 412-648-9166
E-mail: boydcr@upmc.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Maria Simonic
Address: C1100 - UPMC Presbyterian
200 Lothrop St
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Email: simonicma@upmc.edu
Phone: 412-802-8652
Education and Training
Education
BS, University of Arizona, 2001
PhD, Dartmouth College, 2007
MD, University of Pittsburgh, 2012
Training
Internal Medicine Residency, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2014
Renal-Electrolyte Fellowship Training Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2016
Research Interest
Dr. Boyd-Shiwarski’s research interests are potassium homeostasis and ion transport, with a focus on the regulation of the NCC (sodium-chloride cotransporter) by WNK (With-No-Lysine) kinases. WNK kinases are the only known kinases that directly bind chloride and act as regulators of potassium homeostasis. Her recent studies of have focused on the role of a kidney specific isoform of WNK1 in localizing WNK kinases to a protein complex.
Clinical Interest
I am interested in the clinical management of hypertension and chronic kidney disease, and how our diet affects the progression of these diseases. 98% of the US population does not meet the daily recommendation for dietary potassium intake (mostly from fruit and vegetables), and inadequate potassium intake is directly linked to the development of hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Both hypertension and chronic kidney disease have become a global epidemic and a leading cause of death. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of these diseases is of vital importance. Additionally, I am interested in treating patients with inherited disorders that may lead to electrolyte imbalances and chronic kidney disease, including Fabry's disease, Gitelmans syndrome, Bartters syndrome, and Alport syndrome.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Selected Publications:
Boyd-Shiwarski, C. R., Subramanya, A. R., Griffiths, S. E., Beacham, R. T., Norrell, L., Morrison, D. E., Wang, J., Mann, J., Tennant, W., Anderson, E. N., Franks, J., Calderon, M., Connolly, K. A., Cheema, M. U., Weaver, C. J., Nkashama, L. J., Weckerly, C. C., Querry, K. E., Pandey, U. B., Shiwarski, D. J. WNK kinases sense molecular crowding and rescue cell volume via phase separation. Cell - Science Direct. 2022; 185(24): 4488-4506.
Boyd-Shiwarski CR, Shiwarski DJ, Roy A, Namboodiri HN, Nkashama LJ, Xie J, McClain KL, Marciszyn A, Kleyman TR, Tan RJ, Stolz DB, Puthenveedu MA, Huang CL, Subramanya AR. Potassium-regulated distal tubule WNK bodies are kidney-specific WNK1 dependent. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 2018; 29: 499-509.
Boyd-Shiwarski CR, Subramanya AR. The renal response to potassium stress: integrating past with present. Current Opinions in Nephrology and Hypertension. 2017; 26: 411-418.
Ray EC, Rondon-Berrios H, Boyd CR, Kleyman TR. Sodium retention and volume expansion in nephrotic syndrome: implications for hypertension. Advances in Chronic Kidney Discovery. 2014; 22(3): 179-84.
Kashlan OB, Boyd CR, Argyropoulos C, Okumura S, Hughey RP, Grabe M, Kleyman TR. Allosteric inhibition of the epithelial Na+ channel through peptide binding at peripheral finger and thumb domains. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2010; 285(45): 35216-123.
Buck TM, Kolb AR, Boyd CR, Kleyman TR, Brodsky JL. The endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation of the epithelial sodium channel requires a unique complement of molecular chaperones. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 2010; 21(6): 1047-58.
Maarouf AB, Sheng N, Chen J, Winarski KL, Okumura S, Carattino MD, Boyd CR, Kleyman TR, Sheng S. Novel determinants of epithelial sodium channel gating within extracellular thumb domains. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2009; 284(12): 7756-65.
Náray-Fejes-Tóth A, Boyd C, Fejes-Tóth G. Regulation of epithelial sodium transport by promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein. American Journal Physiology Renal Physiology. 2008; 295(1): F18-26.
Boyd C, Náray-Fejes-Tóth A. Steroid-mediated regulation of the epithelial sodium channel subunits in mammary epithelial cells. Endocrinology. 2007; 148(8): 3958-67.
Boyd C, Náray-Fejes-Tóth A. Gene regulation of ENaC subunits by serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase-1. American Journal of Physiology Renal Physiology. 2005; 288(3): F505-12.
Sponsored Research/Activities
Title: The Function of Kidney Specific (KS)-WNK1 Condensates During Potassium Stress
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, & Kidney Disease
Grant Number: K08 DK118211
Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2023
Notable Achievements
NIH K08 Awardee, 2018
Renal Fellows Teaching Award, 2016
ASN Ben J. Lipps Research Fellowship, 2016

Division Websites

Cardiology

Endocrinology and Metabolism

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

General Internal Medicine

Geriatric Medicine
Hematology/Oncology

Infectious Diseases

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Renal-Electrolyte

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Contact

Department of Medicine
1218 Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Email:  chairoff@pitt.edu
Phone:  412-648-9636
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