Our Team
Nadja Grobe, MS, PhD
Manager of Laboratory Research

Nadja received her MS and PhD in biochemistry from the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. Prior to joining RRI in 2017, she gained more than 10 years of experience in guiding and implementing chemistry, biochemistry, and biomedical-focused research teams in nonprofit, academia, and government. Her previous research has been funded by the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the American Society of Nephrology. Her expertise encompasses all aspects of research development, execution, and analysis. At RRI, Nadja is instrumental in designing and validating experimental strategies for improved therapeutic studies in nephrology and related fields. She supports many ongoing RRI research projects and the initiation of new lines of laboratory research.
Recent Articles by Nadja Grobe, MS, PhD
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Cell biochemistry and functionSep 19, 2022
Effect of hypoxia and uremia on oxidative stress on erythroc...
Sara Soares Tozoni, Gabriela Bohnen, Nadja Grobe,...Abstract Oxidative stress (OS) is essential in uremia-associated comorbidities, including renal anemia. Complications experienced by hemodialysis (HD) patients, such as hypoxemia and uremic toxins accumulation, induce OS and premature death of red blood cells (RBC). We aimed to characterize reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant pathways in HD-RBC and RBC from healthy controls (CON-RBC)... -
Xin Wang, Leticia M Tapia Silva, null, null, null,...Abstract The aim of the paper is to summarize the current understanding of the molecular biology of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). It intends to encourage vascular access teams, care providers, and scientists, to explore new molecular tools for assessing the suitability of patients for AVF as vascular access for maintenance hemodialysis (HD). This review also highlights...
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Frontiers in NephrologyJul 22, 2022
SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody response after three doses ...
Xiaoling Wang, Maggie Han, Lemuel Rivera Fuentes, ...Abstract Background: In hemodialysis patients, a third vaccination is frequently administered to augment protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the newly emerged B.1.1.159 (Omicron) variant may evade vaccinal protection more easily than previous strains. It is of clinical interest to better understand the neutralizing activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants after... -
Peter Kotanko, David J. Jörg, Nadja Grobe, Christo...Abstract Erythropoietin deficiency is an extensively researched cause of renal anemia. The etiology and consequences of shortened red blood cell (RBC) life span in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are less well understood. Traversing capillaries requires RBC geometry changes, a process enabled by adaptions of the cytoskeleton. These changes are mediated by transient activation of the...
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Journal of the American Society of NephrologyNov 01, 2021
Testing of Worn Face Masks for Timely Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-...
Lemuel Rivera Fuentes, Nadja Grobe, Zahin Haq, Ohn...Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is primarily transmitted through aerosolized droplets.1 Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exhale SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies at a rate of 103 to 105 per minute.2 In the United States, in-center hemodialysis patients and staff are mandated to wear face masks while staying in the dialysis clinic. Previously, face mask sampling was applied... -
Nadja Grobe, Alhaji Cherif, Xiaoling Wang, Zijun D...Background: Pool-testing strategies combine samples from multiple people and test them as a group. A pool-testing approach may shorten the screening time and increase the test rate during times of limited test availability and inadequate reporting speed. Pool testing has been effectively used for a wide variety of infectious disease screening settings. Historically, it originated...
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Lin-Chun Wang, Leticia M Tapia Silva, Xia Tao, nul...Abstract Introduction: Constipation is prevalent in patients with kidney failure partly due to the use of medication, such as phosphate binders. We hypothesized that serum levels of gut microbiome-derived uremic toxins (UTOX) may be affected by the choice of phosphate binder putatively through its impact on colonic transit time. We investigated two commonly prescribed phosphate binders,...
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Kidney Medicine JournalJul 31, 2021
SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity Rates in Patients and Clinical Sta...
Ohnmar Thwin, Nadja Grobe, Leticia M Tapia Silva, ...There are concerns that in-center maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients may have higher risk for infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) because they take 3 or more round-trips a week to dialysis centers and spend several hours during dialysis close to fellow patients and clinic staff. This concern is supported by data from... -
Journal of the American Society of NephrologyJul 19, 2021
Testing of Worn Face Masks for Timely Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-...
Xiaoling Wang, Nadja Grobe, Zahin Haq, Ohnmar Thwi...Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is primarily transmitted through aerosolized droplets.1 Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exhale SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies at a rate of 103 to 105 per minute.2 In the United States, in-center hemodialysis patients and staff are mandated to wear face masks while staying in the dialysis clinic. Previously, face mask sampling was applied... -
Cellular Physiology BiochemistryJul 14, 2021
Uremia and Inadequate Oxygen Supply Induce Eryptosis and Int...
Gabriela Ferreira Dias, Sara Soares Tozoni, Gabri...Background/aims: Chronic kidney disease is frequently accompanied by anemia, hypoxemia, and hypoxia. It has become clear that the impaired erythropoietin production and altered iron homeostasis are not the sole causes of renal anemia. Eryptosis is a process of red blood cells (RBC) death, like apoptosis of nucleated cells, characterized by Ca2+ influx and phosphatidylserine (PS)...


The RRI is a place where open-minded professionals from different fields and backgrounds work together with the same goal in mind: develop innovative strategies to improve therapies and outcomes for kidney failure patients.
Nadja Grobe, MS, PhD
Manager of Laboratory Research