I am an assistant research scientist who, alongside my MORL colleagues, is attempting to identify and characterize complement-activating autoantibodies called “nephritic factors.”  These nephritic factors are the main causal agents driving a group of ultra-rare kidney diseases collectively termed C3 Glomerulopathy.  To identify these elusive factors, we utilize diverse biochemical and cellular approaches that include single cell immune profiling and RNA-sequencing, bioinformatics, flow cytometry, proteomics, and a wide variety of wet bench biochemical assays.  Once we identify the nephritic factors, we will leverage this understanding towards developing novel standardized diagnostic tests and potential therapies, with the ultimate goal of improving patients' lives.