The groundbreaking collaboration between physiologist Homer W. Smith and members of the Department of Medicine at New York University School of Medicine in the 1920s is generally recognized as the starting point of the modern discipline of nephrology.

The extraordinary team assembled over three decades-including Drs. William Goldring, Herbert Chasis, Homer Smith, and later Saul Farber-encompassed researchers from both basic science and clinical departments, thereby facilitating the translation of basic science discoveries into clinical practice.

Over the years NYU nephrologists have made important breakthroughs in the classification and treatment of glomerular diseases, hypertension, and fluid and electrolyte abnormalities. Today rapid advances in science and technology offer enormous possibilities to further our understanding of kidney disease and develop new therapies.

The training of young academic nephrologists to pursue these possibilities remains a fundamental commitment of the Division of Nephrology.

Left to right: Herbert Chasis, M.D., William Goldring, M.D., and Homer Smith, M.D., were part of the extraordinary team of researchers that translated basic science discoveries into clinical practice at NYU.