Metabolic and Renal Research Group

About us

The increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease and the growing number of patients requiring kidney replacement therapy represent a significant medical and economic challenge. The research group focuses on understanding the intricate relationships between metabolic disorders and kidney disease, as well as their role in the development of cardiovascular disease. It also examines the impact of common viral infections on kidney function.

Our work aims to investigate the causes of age-related decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), improve the precision of GFR estimation methods, and contribute to large clinical trials to identify optimal treatment strategies for patients with established kidney disease. Additionally, we seek to identify potential targets for future direct-acting antiviral therapies against BK Polyomavirus (BKPyV).

We adopt a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating epidemiological research, clinical studies, and experimental investigations to address these pressing issues in kidney and cardiovascular health.

Members


Latest publications

2025:

Iohexol clearance, but not estimated GFR, reveals a steeper GFR decline in patients with prediabetes. Melsom T, Brobak KM, Norvik JV, Enoksen IT, Rinde L, Jenssen TG, Eriksen BO.Kidney Int. 2025 Jul 9:S0085-2538(25)00519-8. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2025.06.019. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40645290 

Urinary orosomucoid and accelerated GFR decline: a 11-year follow-up study in a non-diabetic population.
Andreassen RM, Brobak KM, Enoksen IT, Melsom T, Eriksen BO, Solbu MD.Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2025 Jul 4:gfaf113. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfaf113. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40613568
 
Prevalence of reduced eGFR in European adults using KDIGO and age-adapted eGFR thresholds.
Astley ME, Chesnaye NC, Gambaro G, Ortiz A, Hallan S, Carrero JJ, Ebert N, Eriksen BO, Faucon AL, Ferraro PM, Ittermann T, Jonsson AJ, Langlo KAR, Melsom T, Schaeffner E, Stracke S, Palsson R, Jager KJ, Stel VS.Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2025 Jul 17:gfaf112. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfaf112. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40674065
 
Age- and sex-specific reference values of estimated glomerular filtration rate for European adults.
Astley ME, Chesnaye NC, Hallan S, Gambaro G, Ortiz A, Carrero JJ, Ebert N, Eriksen BO, Faucon AL, Ferraro PM, Indridason OS, Ittermann T, Jonsson AJ, Rise Langlo KA, Melsom T, Schaeffner E, Stracke S, Stel VS, Jager KJ.Kidney Int. 2025 Jun;107(6):1076-1087. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2025.02.025. Epub 2025 Mar 22.PMID: 40122341 
 

Asymmetric dimethylarginine and citrulline are risk factors for cardiovascular disease independently of both estimated and measured GFR.

Rinde NB, Melsom T, Fuskevåg OM, Eriksen BO, Norvik JV.Clin Kidney J. 2025 Jun 13;18(7):sfaf181. doi: 10.1093/ckj/sfaf181. eCollection 2025 Jul.PMID: 40642321
 
The Retinal Vasculature and Risk of Age-Related GFR Decline - The Renal Iohexol Clearance Survey.
Småbrekke S, Brobakk KM, Rinde NB, Von Hanno T, Bertelsen G, Eriksen BO, Melsom T.Kidney Int Rep. 2025 Feb 14;10(5):1384-1392. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2025.02.006. eCollection 2025 May.PMID: 40485703 
 
Gut Microbiome Diversity and Uric Acid in Serum and Urine.
Ness C, Svistounov D, Solbu MD, Petrenya N, Boardman N, Ytrehus K, Jenssen TG, Holmes A, Simpson SJ, Zykova SN.Kidney Int Rep. 2025 Apr 3;10(6):1683-1693. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2025.03.040. eCollection 2025 Jun.PMID: 40630283
 
High measured GFR as a predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease in a prospective non-diabetic population cohort.
Eriksen BO, Fasiolo M, Mathisen UD, Jenssen TG, Norvik JV, Schei J, Stefansson VTN, Melsom T.Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2025 Apr 29:gfaf079. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfaf079.
 
2024:
Massive entry of BK Polyomavirus induces transient cytoplasmic vacuolization of human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells.
Lorentzen EM, Henriksen S, Rinaldo CH.PLoS Pathog. 2024 Nov 21;20(11):e1012681. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012681. eCollection 2024 Nov.PMID: 39570904
 
The Association between Urinary Sodium-Potassium Ratio, Kidney Function, and Blood Pressure in a Cohort from the General Population.
Brobak KM, Melsom T, Eriksen BO, Høieggen A, Norvik JV, Solbu MD.Kidney Blood Press Res. 2024;49(1):184-195. doi: 10.1159/000535977. Epub 2024 Feb 21.PMID: 38382490
 
Novel biomarkers in patients with uncontrolled hypertension with and without kidney damage.
Brobak KM, Halvorsen LV, Aass HCD, Søraas CL, Aune A, Olsen E, Bergland OU, Rognstad S, Blom KB, Birkeland JAK, Høieggen A, Larstorp ACK, Solbu MD.Blood Press. 2024 Dec;33(1):2323980. doi: 10.1080/08037051.2024.2323980. Epub 2024 Apr 12.PMID: 38606688
 
Echocardiographic findings following renal sympathetic denervation for treatment resistant hypertension, the ReShape CV-risk study.
Subbotina A, Skjølsvik E, Solbu MD, Miroslawska A, Steigen T.Blood Press. 2024 Dec;33(1):2326298. doi: 10.1080/08037051.2024.2326298. Epub 2024 Mar 12.PMID: 38469724
 
Effect of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring on Adherence and Blood Pressure: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.
Halvorsen LV, Søraas CL, Larstorp ACK, Hjørnholm U, Kjær VN, Liestøl K, Aune A, Olsen E, Brobak KM, Bergland OU, Rognstad S, Aarskog NR, Heimark S, Fadl Elmula FEM, Gerdts E, Mo R, Solbu MD, Opdal MS, Kjeldsen SE, Rostrup M, Høieggen A.Am J Hypertens. 2024 Sep 16;37(10):826-836. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpae059.PMID: 38713475
 
Iohexol plasma clearance measurement protocol standardization for adults: a consensus paper of the European Kidney Function Consortium.
Ebert N, Schaeffner E, Seegmiller JC, van Londen M, Bökenkamp A, Cavalier E, Delanaye P, Derain-Dubourg L, Eriksen BO, Indridason OS, Palsson R, Shafi T, Christensson A, Bevc S, Carrara F, Courbebaisse M, Dalton RN, van der Giet M, Melsom T, Methven S, Nordin G, Pottel H, Rule AD, Trillini M, White CA; European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Task Group on Chronic Kidney Disease (EFLM TG-CKD).Kidney Int. 2024 Oct;106(4):583-596. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2024.06.029. Epub 2024 Aug 7.PMID: 39097002
 

Our Projects



Collaborating projects

NorKiBB: Norwegian Kidney Biopsy Biobank

P.I. Stein I Hallan, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

Grants from the Norwegian Research Council

Collaborator from our group: Marit Dahl Solbu

Nordic JIA study - 28 years’ follow-up substudy:

P.I. Ellen Nordal, UiT; NoSPeR Study Group

Grants from several sources

Collaborator from our group: Marit Dahl Solbu

Master Degrees

2026 (ongoing): 

2024:

2021:

2019:

Metabolic and Renal Research Group


marit.solbu@unn.no
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