Graduate Student Spotlight: Kevin Hurtado
Kevin Hurtado is a College of Pharmacy graduate student who recently gave presentations at the 2022 American Society of Nephrology's Kidney Week in Orlando and the 2022 American Physiological Society/American Society of Nephrology Control of Renal Function in Health and Disease Conference in Charlottesville, Virginia.
In December, his work was published in the American Journal of Physiology: Renal Physiology -- Lasmiditan promotes recovery from acute kidney injury through induction of mitochondrial biogenesis. He recently shared with us what his experience has been like in the College and his research into treating acute kidney injury.
Kevin Hurtado
BS Degree, Masters Degree, Other Degrees: BS in Biological and Ecological sciences from Northern Arizona University – Yuma branch
Track: Pharmacology and Toxicology
PI: Dr. Rick Schnellmann
Expected graduation year: 2023
Q: What inspired you to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy?
Since my bachelors I was interested in performing pharmacological research in academia. The University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy is a highly competitive research college in pharmaceutical sciences. I was confident this college and their prestigious faculty members would provide me with excellent training and support to overcome any future challenges as a scientist.
Q: What have you found unique or special about your experience so far within the College?
What I have found special at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy is a professional environment that encourages improvement in research while maintaining healthy camaraderie. The seminar we all students are required to take is a very powerful and enjoyable time were we all have a chance to share our work, obtain feedback and improve from it.
Q: What is your research focused on?
My research training focuses in finding therapeutic pharmacological treatments for acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI is induced by multiple mechanisms such as ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), drugs and nephrotoxicity (e.g. arsenic) and results in tubular and vascular dysfunction. In addition, a single of multiple episodes of AKI can lead into the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key mediator of injury and recent studies have shown that pharmacological-induced mitochondrial biogenesis (MB) can provide renal recovery. Activation of the 5-HT1F receptor has been demonstrated to induce MB in the mouse kidney and the absence of said receptor results in greater renal injury from I/R, demonstrating the importance of the 5-HT1F receptor in the kidney. Specifically my dissertation research studying the effects of the 5-HT1F activation in AKI. In doing so, we can repurpose a FDA-approved drug for a diseases that have no effective treatment.
Q: What do you enjoy most about the graduate program?
What I enjoy the most about the graduate program are the daily interactions that I have with a wide diversity of people and their different sciences, projects, and lives. I am privileged to not only learn about my colleague's work, but also about their stories. These interactions motivate me to innovate and improve my work and myself.
Q: What are your goals after graduation?
My goals after graduation are to complete a post-doctoral training and eventually become a professor at a large research institution.