Dr. Samir El-Dahr
Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Jane B. Aron Professor, Mentoring Faculty, Biochemisty & Molecular Biology
Biography
Dr. Samir El-Dahr received his medical degree at Aleppo University School of Medicine in 1982. He completed his residency in Pediatrics at the Medical Center of Delaware in 1986, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Nephrology at the University of Virginia. Dr. El-Dahr joined the Section of Pediatric Nephrology at Tulane in 1990 and is currently the Jane B. Aron Professor of Pediatrics and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Tulane University School of Medicine, and Section Chief of Pediatric Nephrology. Dr. El-Dahr is actively involved in laboratory research and has served on several study sections at the National Institute of Health, where he currently holds funding related to mechanisms of kidney development. He is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of Medical School Pediatric Departament Chairs. Dr. El-Dahr is an active clinician with an interest in pediatric hypertension and transplantation.
Education
Aleppo University, School of Medicine
University of Virginia
Medical Center of Delaware
Mercy Hospital, Baltimore
Articles
Epigenetic regulation of renal development
2019
Developmental changes in cell fate are tightly regulated by cell-type specific transcription factors. Chromatin reorganization during organismal development ensures dynamic access of developmental regulators to their cognate DNA sequences. Thus, understanding the epigenomic states of promoters and enhancers is of key importance. Recent years have witnessed significant advances in our knowledge of the transcriptional mechanisms of kidney development.
Defining the dynamic chromatin landscape of mouse nephron progenitors
2019
Six2+ cap mesenchyme cells, also called nephron progenitor cells (NPC), are precursors of all epithelial cell types of the nephron, the filtering unit of the kidney. Current evidence indicates that perinatal ‘old’ NPC have a greater tendency to exit the progenitor niche and differentiate into nascent nephrons than their embryonic ‘young’ counterpart. Understanding the underpinnings of NPC development may offer insights to rejuvenate old NPC and expand the progenitor pool.
Renal Medullary Histone Deacetylase Dependent Regulation of Fluid-Electrolyte Homeostasis During High Salt Feeding
2019
Histone deacetylase enzymes (HDACs) regulate gene transcription through epigenetic modification of chromatin structure. HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) are being examined as anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies in cardiovascular disease. However, adverse events of HDACi use include hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and hypertension suggesting that HDACs are involved in regulation of fluid-electrolyte balance. Thus, we sought to define the renal physiology and pathophysiology role of HDACs to understand mechanisms of these potentially fatal side effects.
Media Appearances
Willis-Knighton joins partnership to advance pediatric health care in NWLA
“Willis-Knighton-affiliated pediatric providers will now be able to participate in the robust academic activities available through Tulane and Children’s Hospital New Orleans,” says Samir El-Dahr, MD, chair of pediatrics at Tulane University School of Medicine.
