Lauren Baker

Dr. Baker’s research, titled Discovering Genetic Drivers of Calcium Oxalate Urinary Stone Disease Through Multi-Omics Dissection in the Spontaneous Dog Model, investigated the genetic mechanisms underlying calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stones, which account for over 75% of all kidney stones and frequently recur. Recognizing the Miniature Schnauzer as an ideal spontaneous model for this disease, Dr. Baker leveraged the breed’s high risk for CaOx stones and limited genetic diversity to enhance the detection of genetic associations. Her work built on findings that many affected Schnauzers were hypercalciuric and some exhibited disordered vitamin D metabolism, suggesting multiple genetic contributors to stone formation. Using metabolomics and genetic analyses, she sought to identify molecular phenotypes and genetic drivers of metabolic abnormalities. She also investigated the role of a long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) in regulating the calcium-sensing receptor (CASR), potentially causing absorptive hypercalciuria in stone formers. By integrating canine and human RNA sequencing data, Dr. Baker identified shared genetic pathways that advanced understanding of kidney stone disease and provided a foundation for future translational research.