Silas Culver, MD

Silas Culver, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology, and Metabolism

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 801406, Charlottesville, VA 22908
Lab location: Aurbach Medical Research Building 1236
Lab phone: 434-924-9661
sculver@virginia.edu

Publications

• 2006, B.A, Slavic Languages and Literature, University of Chicago
• 2011, M.D., University of Michigan
• 2011-2014, Residency in Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health System
• 2017, Fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Virginia Health System
• 2014-2017, Fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Virginia Health System
• 2021, Board Certification in Obesity Medicine, American Board of Obesity Medicine

• Role of Atp6ap2 in renal proximal tubule lipotoxicity (currently funded by NIH)

Obesity, metabolic syndrome, obesity-related renal injury, renal lipotoxicity, proximal tubule transport, (pro)renin receptor (ATP6AP2).

Individuals with obesity and metabolic syndrome are at increased risk for renal injury.  An important mechanism for this is the accumulation of toxic lipid species, or lipotoxicity, in the kidney.  ATP6AP2, previously known as the (pro)renin receptor, shows increased renal expression in obesity and diabetes and has been implicated in kidney dysfunction in these conditions. Loss of ATP6AP2 in the renal tubule alters metabolite and electrolyte transport across the renal tubular epithelium and intracellular metabolism.  My research utilizes murine and in vitro models to investigate the role of ATP6AP2 in renal lipid accumulation and its implications for obesity-related kidney disease.

I am interested in the role of dietary interventions and renal fatty acid oxidation in reducing obesity-related kidney injury.