Department of Medicine
Faculty Profiles by Division

Division of Renal-Electrolyte

Faculty Profiles
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photo Lori Birder, PhD

Renal-Electrolyte

Professor of Medicine (Renal - Electrolyte Division)

Email: lbirder@pitt.edu

Phone: 412-383-7368
Contact
Office: 3550 Terrace Street
A1217 Scaife Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
 
Phone: 412-383-7368
Fax: 412-383-7197
E-mail: lbirder@pitt.edu
Education and Training
Education
B.S. Chemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA., 1982
Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA., 1992
NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Research Interest
Dr. Birder’s laboratory is focused on the physiology and pharmacology of multiple organ systems in health and disease with a current focus on stress/pain and aging. Evidence supporting purine dysregulation in the aged lower urinary tract has been published by our team in JCI Insight and collaboration in the field of ophthalmology has revealed similar evidence of purine dysregulation in an animal model for age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. The most recent evidence has shown that targeting a single enzyme restores purine dysregulation and resultant mitochondrial dysfunction/oxidative stress. Given the important and fundamental role for mitochondrial dysregulation in the pathogenesis of aging and visceral pain conditions, therapies that can protect and restore mitochondria are likely to be important in terms of disease prevention.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Sponsored Research/Activities
Title: Role of Purine Dysregulation in the Underactive Bladder
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Aging
Grant Number: R56
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2020
Title: Contribution of Stress Induced Autonomic and Urothelial Dysregulation to IC/BPS
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, & Kidney Disease
Grant Number: R01 DK115476
Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2023
Title: Bladder Mucosal Dysfunction During Aging
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Aging
Grant Number: R01 AG056944
Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2023
Title: PDE5 Inhibition of Afferents and Interstitial Cells in Overactive Mouse Bladders
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Health
Grant Number: R01 R01DK098361
Start Year: 2020
End Year: 2025
Title: PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES OF RHODOSPIN METABOLISM AND SIGNALING
Role: Co-Investigator
Start Year: 2020
End Year: 2021
Title: University of Pittsburgh O'Brien Cooperative Research Center Program-Project 1
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, & Kidney Disease
Grant Number: U54 DK112079
Start Year: 2016
End Year: 2021
Notable Achievements
Founding Editor-in-Chief ICS open access journal ‘Continence’, 2021-2025
Member Med7 Flanders Research Foundation (FWO) European Grant Review Panel, 2020-2025
Member SUFU Executive Committee, 2020-2023
International Continence Society Member Board of Trustees, 2019-2025
Chair Neural Control Committee, 6th International Consultation on Incontinence, 2016
Adjunct Professorship University of Antwerp (Belgium), 2013-14

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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