“Understanding Bone Failure in Patients with Kidney Disease”

Speaker:

Thomas Nickolas, M.D., M.S.
David C. and Betty Farrell Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases
Washington University in St. Louis

About Thomas Nickolas:

Dr. Nickolas earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed internal medicine residency training at the University of Pennsylvania and a nephrology fellowship at Columbia University, where he later served as director of the training program. He also holds a master’s degree in biostatistics and epidemiology from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, reflecting his strong foundation in clinical research.

His research focuses on how impaired kidney function affects bone metabolism across the lifespan, including the ways conditions such as HIV infection and diabetes contribute to bone fragility. By examining disruptions in the body’s ability to regulate essential minerals, his work has helped clarify why patients with kidney disease face increased risks of bone weakness, deformities, and fractures. These insights have informed clinical trials and led to novel strategies aimed at improving bone health and overall quality of life in this population.

His contributions to the field have been widely recognized, including his selection as the recipient of the American Society of Nephrology’s Jack Coburn Endowed Lectureship on Bone and Mineral Disorders in chronic kidney disease.