Benjamin Spector, MD, MS
Position title: Assistant Professor
Email: bspector2@wisc.edu
Address:
Division of Nephrology
Education
BS, University of Washington, Seattle Washington
MD, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Fellowship, Pediatric Nephrology, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri
MS, University of Missouri–Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Epigenetics, Children’s Mercy Genomic Medicine Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Professional Activities
Dr. Benjamin Spector is assistant professor (CHS) in the Division of Nephrology.
Clinical Interests
Spector enjoys participating in all aspects of pediatric nephrology, including congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis, chronic kidney disease (CKD), dialysis, and transplant. When on the inpatient service, he gravitates toward participation in the diagnostic work-up of glomerulonephritis and acute kidney injury, as well as providing acute kidney replacement therapy (dialysis). In the outpatient setting, Spector enjoys the many facets of providing optimal care to CKD patients.
Research Interests
In his research, Spector studies methylation signatures of circulating DNA in the plasma and urine in kidney transplant patients. Methylation is an epigenetic marker that regulates gene expression. By comparing these methylation patterns in different pathophysiologic states (e.g., rejection vs. non-rejection), biological pathways that contribute to disease pathogenesis can be identified. It is his hope that the new knowledge resulting from this research will lead to identification of intervenable targets to promote overall allograft health.