On April 29, 2025, at the invitation of Professor Zhu Tongyu, Vice Dean of Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University and academic leader of the Kidney Transplantation Department at Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, Professor Karmin O (Jiamin Ke) from the Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology at the University of Manitoba, Canada, visited our institution for academic exchange.
Professor Karmin O is a renowned scholar in the field of oxidative stress and its relationship with health and disease, and she has made significant contributions to drug development. Her research spans both basic science and applied areas such as animal nutrition and health. She collaborates closely with the Animal Science team at the University of Manitoba, for instance, in exploring the impact of low-protein diets on gut microbiota in pigs. Additionally, Professor Karmin O is Professor Zhu Tongyu’s mentor and a key research collaborator. She shares a deep academic connection and long-standing partnership with our kidney transplantation department.
In today’s academic presentation, Professor Karmin O once again focused on the field of oxidative stress, engaging in in-depth discussions with several experts from the Kidney Transplantation Department on the relationship between human metabolism and acute kidney injury (AKI). She particularly emphasized the critical role of folic acid in this process. Her research findings indicate that folic acid expression is significantly reduced in AKI mouse models. However, increasing folic acid levels can enhance the expression of various antioxidants, alleviate oxidative stress damage, and positively impact systemic conditions such as hepatic lipid metabolism, thereby improving the prognosis of AKI.
Furthermore, Professor Karmin O introduced recent advances in animal research and agriculture, broadening our perspectives on the practical applications of basic research. She also expressed her sincere gratitude for the contributions made by Professor Zhu Tongyu and his team to academic exchange in the field of kidney transplantation.
Following the presentation, Professor Zhu Tongyu and several experts engaged in lively discussions with Professor Karmin O on topics such as kidney protection, transplant-related infections and immunity, and gut microbiota regulation. The academic exchange concluded successfully.
