
Joseph P. Gaut, MD, PhD
Ladenson Professor, Pathology & Immunology
Contact
- Email: jpgaut@wustl.edu
- Phone: 314-747-2541
Division: Anatomic & Molecular Pathology
Titles
Division Chief, Anatomic and Molecular Pathology
Section Head, Genitourinary Pathology, Renal Pathology, Donor Organ Evaluation
Professor, Department of Medicine (Nephrology)
Medical Director, BJH Histology Lab
Section Head, Renal Pathology
Interim Section Head, Genitourinary Pathology
Section Head, Donor Organ Evaluation
Research Interests
My research is focused on improved diagnostic methods for renal disease. My recent work involves acute kidney injury pathology, diagnostics, and therapeutics. We identified myo-inositol oxygenase (MIOX) as an abundant, kidney specific protein and developed a sensitive immunoassay for its quantification in plasma and urine. Our studies demonstrated that plasma MIOX is increased following acute kidney injury in animals and humans. Importantly, plasma MIOX increased two days prior to the increase in creatinine. The substrate for MIOX, myo-inositol, shows similar properties. Both MIOX and myo-inositol are actively under investigation in our group. We continue to explore the pathology of kidney injury in various clinical settings.
In close collaboration with Dr. Joshua Swamidass, we developed the first artificial intelligence technology to assist pathologists with quantitative assessment of donor kidney biopsy whole slide images generated from frozen sections. We demonstrated the superiority of these methods compared with current standard of care with a potential 37% decrease in the likelihood of organ discard if computer assisted techniques are deployed for clinical use. This approach is now used clinically in our organ procurement service here at Washington University. We continue to develop improved image analysis technologies to transform biopsy evaluation to include objective, quantitative data that correlates with outcomes.
I am active in the national Human Molecular BioMolecular Atlas Program, and the Kidney Precision Medicine Project. I have served as the chair of multiple national committees including the Kidney Precision Medicine Project Pathology Committee, and the Renal Pathology Society Research and Scientific, Membership, and Program Committees.
Selected Publications
Three dimensional multiscalar neurovascular nephron connectivity map of the human kidney across the lifespan
Publication
Label-free multimodal optical biopsy reveals biomolecular and morphological features of diabetic kidney tissue in 2D and 3D
Publication
LDL receptor–mediated endocytosis of Escherichia coli α-hemolysin mediates renal epithelial toxicity
Publication
Mapping human tissues with highly multiplexed RNA in situ hybridization
Publication
Assistant

Billie Charlton
Administrative Professional
Contact
- Email: billie.charlton@wustl.edu
- Phone: 314-273-1742