Barbara Ballermann

Biography

Division of Nephrology 13-103 Clinical Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6G 2G3 Tel: 780 248-1861.

Research Interest

Dr. Ballermann studies Glomerular Endothelial Cell biology. She was the first to ever propagate glomerular endothelial cells in tissue culture and has written a number of key articles in the area of glomerular capillary development and differentiation. Her recent work shows that the glomerular capillary lumen is carved out in the embryo by a process that involves removal of superfluous endothelial cells through programmed cell death. She also has discovered a new signalling pathway in endothelial cells down the non-integrin laminin/prion protein receptor. Dr. Ballermann is keenly interested in disease processes that affect glomerular capillary endothelial cell function, for instance pre-eclampsia and the haemolytic uremic syndrome, as well as the processes that would lead to capillary repair after episodes of glomerulonephritis. So far, some 25 fellows have completed their research training with Dr. Ballermann, and many of them have been able to establish their own independent laboratories in the USA, in Canada and across the world.