Matthew A. Sparks | Scholars@Duke

Matthew A. Sparks
Assistant Professor of Medicine

My lab is interested in understanding how both the renin angiotensin and prostanoid systems regulate blood pressure by altering blood flow to the kidney. My lab utilizes a combination of physiologic and molecular techniques in genetically modified mice to probe questions about how changes in the micro circulation in the kidney alter sodium excretion. The overarching goal of this research is to identify novel mechanisms to target drug therapy for patients with hypertension. My research is funded by a career development award from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (IK2BX002240) and a Scientist Development Grant from the American Heart Association. In my role as Director of Undergraduate Medical Research in the Department of Medicine I help promote research in the Department of Medicine during the 3rd year of medical school at Duke University. I also serve as the Associate Program Director for the Nephrology Fellowship Program.

I'm also interested finding ways to promote medical education. My focus is on leveraging social media to enhance learning in nephrology. I am a faculty member of the Nephrology Social Media Collective (NSMC) and member of the online nephrology journal club (NephJC). I am also co-founder and advisory board member of the first nephrology blog associated with a journal- AJKD blog, the official blog of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. Co-creator of the popular edutainment project NephMadness. Past deputy editor of Renal Fellow Network where I continue to remain an advocate for the site and author the yearly “Top Nephrology Stories of the Year”. I am currently a member of the Communications and Media Committee of the American Society of Nephrology, the American Heart Association and am a fellow of the American Society of Nephrology and the National Kidney Foundation.

I serve as Education Director for KIDNEYcon- a yearly hands-on conference dedicated to advances in nephrology held in Little Rock, AR each April.

@Nephro_Sparks on Twitter

Nephrology Fellowship Program

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Nephrology, Medicine 2015

Contact Information

2 Genome Court, Msrb2 Room 1013, Box 103015, Durham, NC 27710
Duke Box 103015, Durham, NC 27710
matthew.sparks@duke.edu (919) 684-9737
AJKD Blog
NephJC
Renal Fellow Network

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Fellow in Nephrology, Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine 2007 - 2011
- Chief Resident, Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine 2006 - 2007
- Resident, Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine 2003 - 2006
- M.D., University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine 2003
Duke Appointment History
- Medical Instructor in the Department of Medicine, Medicine, Nephrology, Medicine 2011 - 2015
Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke
- Associate Program Director- Nephrology Fellowship
  
  Director of Medical Student Research- Department of Medicine
Recognition
In the News
- AUG 3, 2015 Smithsonian
  
  Top five myths about human kidneys
Awards & Honors
- Volunteerism and Community Service Award. American College of Physicians. 2006
Expertise
Subject Headings
Research
Selected Grants
- Duke Training Grant in Nephrology awarded by National Institutes of Health 1995 - 2022
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Books
  - Lerma, E. V., Sparks, M. A., & Topf, J. (2018). Nephrology Secrets.
- Academic Articles
  - Panigrahy, D., Gartung, A., Yang, J., Yang, H., Gilligan, M. M., Sulciner, M. L., … Sukhatme, V. P. (2019). Preoperative stimulation of resolution and inflammation blockade eradicates micrometastases.. J Clin Invest, 130, 2964–2979. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI127282
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  - Dave, N. N., & Sparks, M. A. (2019). A Delicate Balance: Intraglomerular Hemodynamics Across Ages in Type 1 Diabetes.. Am J Kidney Dis, 73(6), 759–761. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2019.02.009
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  - Shah, R., & Sparks, M. A. (2019). Renin-angiotensin system inhibition in advanced chronic kidney disease: how low can the kidney function go?. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens, 28(2), 171–177. https://doi.org/10.1097/MNH.0000000000000484
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  - Herrera, M., Yang, T., Sparks, M. A., Manning, M. W., Koller, B. H., & Coffman, T. M. (2019). Complex Role for E-Prostanoid 4 Receptors in Hypertension.. J Am Heart Assoc, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.118.010745
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  - Farouk, S., & Sparks, M. A. (2019). Editorial commentary: The public physician in cardiology: The solution to information pollution.. Trends Cardiovasc Med. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcm.2019.02.002
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  - Farouk, S., & Sparks, M. A. (2018). Renal Fellow Network: Past and Future.. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol, 13(12), 1915–1917. https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.06700518
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  - Carlson, D. A., Singer, M. R., Sutherland, C., Redondo, C., Alexander, L. T., Hughes, P. F., … Haystead, T. A. J. (2018). Targeting Pim Kinases and DAPK3 to Control Hypertension.. Cell Chem Biol, 25(10), 1195-1207.e32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.06.006
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  - Wolf, E., Diaz, E. J., Hollis, A. N., Hoang, T. A., Azad, H. A., Bendt, K. M., … Sparks, M. A. (2018). Vascular type 1 angiotensin receptors control blood pressure by augmenting peripheral vascular resistance in female mice.. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 315(4), F997–F1005. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00639.2017
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  - Colbert, G. B., Topf, J., Jhaveri, K. D., Oates, T., Rheault, M. N., Shah, S., … Sparks, M. A. (2018). The Social Media Revolution in Nephrology Education.. Kidney Int Rep, 3(3), 519–529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2018.02.003
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  - Sparks, M. A., & Topf, J. M. (2018). NephMadness After 5 Years: A Recap and Game Plan for the Future.. Am J Kidney Dis, 71(3), 299–301. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2017.12.001
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  - Wolf, E., Kothari, N. R., Roberts, J. K., & Sparks, M. A. (2018). Baclofen Toxicity in Kidney Disease.. Am J Kidney Dis, 71(2), 275–280. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2017.07.005
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  - Wang, L., Sha, Y., Bai, J., Eisner, W., Sparks, M. A., Buckley, A. F., & Spurney, R. F. (2017). Podocyte-specific knockout of cyclooxygenase 2 exacerbates diabetic kidney disease.. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 313(2), F430–F439. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00614.2016
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  - Topf, J. M., Sparks, M. A., Phelan, P. J., Shah, N., Lerma, E. V., Graham-Brown, M. P. M., … Hiremath, S. (2017). The Evolution of the Journal Club: From Osler to Twitter.. Am J Kidney Dis, 69(6), 827–836. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2016.12.012
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  - Stegbauer, J., Chen, D., Herrera, M., Sparks, M. A., Yang, T., Königshausen, E., … Coffman, T. M. (2017). Resistance to hypertension mediated by intercalated cells of the collecting duct.. Jci Insight, 2(7). https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.92720
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  - Roberts, J. K., Sparks, M. A., & Lehrich, R. W. (2016). Medical student attitudes toward kidney physiology and nephrology: a qualitative study.. Ren Fail, 38(10), 1683–1693. https://doi.org/10.1080/0886022X.2016.1230459
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  - Zhang, J., Rudemiller, N. P., Patel, M. B., Wei, Q., Karlovich, N. S., Jeffs, A. D., … Crowley, S. D. (2016). Competing Actions of Type 1 Angiotensin II Receptors Expressed on T Lymphocytes and Kidney Epithelium during Cisplatin-Induced AKI.. J Am Soc Nephrol, 27(8), 2257–2264. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2015060683
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  - Cameron, C. B., Nair, V., Varma, M., Adams, M., Jhaveri, K. D., & Sparks, M. A. (2016). Does Academic Blogging Enhance Promotion and Tenure? A Survey of US and Canadian Medicine and Pediatric Department Chairs.. Jmir Med Educ, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.2196/mededu.4867
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  - Chen, D., Stegbauer, J., Sparks, M. A., Kohan, D., Griffiths, R., Herrera, M., … Coffman, T. M. (2016). Impact of Angiotensin Type 1A Receptors in Principal Cells of the Collecting Duct on Blood Pressure and Hypertension.. Hypertension, 67(6), 1291–1297. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.115.06987
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  - Zhang, J., Rudemiller, N. P., Patel, M. B., Karlovich, N. S., Wu, M., McDonough, A. A., … Crowley, S. D. (2016). Interleukin-1 Receptor Activation Potentiates Salt Reabsorption in Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension via the NKCC2 Co-transporter in the Nephron.. Cell Metab, 23(2), 360–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2015.11.013
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  - Sparks, M. A., Stegbauer, J., Chen, D., Gomez, J. A., Griffiths, R. C., Azad, H. A., … Coffman, T. M. (2015). Vascular Type 1A Angiotensin II Receptors Control BP by Regulating Renal Blood Flow and Urinary Sodium Excretion.. J Am Soc Nephrol, 26(12), 2953–2962. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2014080816
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  - Topf, J. M., Sparks, M. A., Iannuzzella, F., Lerma, E., Oates, T., Phelan, P. J., & Hiremath, S. (2015). Twitter-Based Journal Clubs: Additional Facts and Clarifications.. J Med Internet Res, 17(9). https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.4639
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  - Roberts, J. K., Westphal, S., & Sparks, M. A. (2015). Iatrogenic Baclofen Neurotoxicity in ESRD: Recognition and Management.. Semin Dial, 28(5), 525–529. https://doi.org/10.1111/sdi.12400
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  - Dimke, H., Sparks, M. A., Thomson, B. R., Frische, S., Coffman, T. M., & Quaggin, S. E. (2015). Tubulovascular cross-talk by vascular endothelial growth factor a maintains peritubular microvasculature in kidney.. J Am Soc Nephrol, 26(5), 1027–1038. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2014010060
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  - Sparks, M. A., Lerma, E. V., Kupin, W., Phelan, P. J., Jhaveri, K. D., & Topf, J. (2015). NephMadness 2015: nephrology as a cornerstone of medicine.. Am J Kidney Dis, 65(3), 375–377. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2014.12.002
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  - Malone, A. F., Phelan, P. J., Hall, G., Cetincelik, U., Homstad, A., Alonso, A. S., … Gbadegesin, R. A. (2014). Rare hereditary COL4A3/COL4A4 variants may be mistaken for familial focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.. Kidney Int, 86(6), 1253–1259. https://doi.org/10.1038/ki.2014.305
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  - Zhang, J., Patel, M. B., Griffiths, R., Mao, A., Song, Y.-S., Karlovich, N. S., … Crowley, S. D. (2014). Tumor necrosis factor-α produced in the kidney contributes to angiotensin II-dependent hypertension.. Hypertension, 64(6), 1275–1281. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.03863
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  - Gbadegesin, R. A., Hall, G., Adeyemo, A., Hanke, N., Tossidou, I., Burchette, J., … Winn, M. P. (2014). Mutations in the gene that encodes the F-actin binding protein anillin cause FSGS.. J Am Soc Nephrol, 25(9), 1991–2002. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2013090976
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  - Sparks, M. A., Crowley, S. D., Gurley, S. B., Mirotsou, M., & Coffman, T. M. (2014). Classical Renin-Angiotensin system in kidney physiology.. Compr Physiol, 4(3), 1201–1228. https://doi.org/10.1002/cphy.c130040
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  - Phelan, P. J., Conlon, P. J., & Sparks, M. A. (2014). Genetic determinants of renal transplant outcome: where do we stand?. J Nephrol, 27(3), 247–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40620-014-0053-4
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  - Zhang, J.-D., Patel, M. B., Griffiths, R., Dolber, P. C., Ruiz, P., Sparks, M. A., … Crowley, S. D. (2014). Type 1 angiotensin receptors on macrophages ameliorate IL-1 receptor-mediated kidney fibrosis.. J Clin Invest, 124(5), 2198–2203. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI61368
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  - Wang, L., Tang, Y., Eisner, W., Sparks, M. A., Buckley, A. F., & Spurney, R. F. (2014). Augmenting podocyte injury promotes advanced diabetic kidney disease in Akita mice.. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 444(4), 622–627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.01.115
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  - Malone, A. F., Phelan, P. J., Hall, G., Cetincelik, U., Homstad, A., Alonso, A. S., … Gbadegesin, R. A. (2014). Rare hereditary COL4A3/COL4A4 variants may be mistaken for familial focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Kidney International, 86(6), 1253–1259. https://doi.org/10.1038/ki.2014.305
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  - Wysocki, J., Ortiz-Melo, D. I., Mattocks, N. K., Xu, K., Prescott, J., Evora, K., … Gurley, S. B. (2014). ACE2 deficiency increases NADPH-mediated oxidative stress in the kidney.. Physiol Rep, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/phy2.264
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  - Xie, L., Sparks, M. A., Li, W., Qi, Y., Liu, C., Coffman, T. M., & Johnson, G. A. (2013). Quantitative susceptibility mapping of kidney inflammation and fibrosis in type 1 angiotensin receptor-deficient mice.. Nmr Biomed, 26(12), 1853–1863. https://doi.org/10.1002/nbm.3039
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  - Malone, A. F., Sparks, M. A., Howell, D. N., Middleton, J. P., Smith, S. R., & Lehrich, R. W. (2013). IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.. J Nephrol, 26(6), 1195–1198. https://doi.org/10.5301/jn.5000298
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  - Pippin, J. W., Sparks, M. A., Glenn, S. T., Buitrago, S., Coffman, T. M., Duffield, J. S., … Shankland, S. J. (2013). Cells of renin lineage are progenitors of podocytes and parietal epithelial cells in experimental glomerular disease.. Am J Pathol, 183(2), 542–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2013.04.024
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  - Jhaveri, K. D., Sparks, M. A., & Shah, H. H. (2013). Novel educational approaches to enhance learning and interest in nephrology.. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis, 20(4), 336–346. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ackd.2013.03.006
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  - Jhaveri, K. D., Sparks, M. A., Shah, H. H., Khan, S., Chawla, A., Desai, T., … Kohan, D. E. (2013). Why not nephrology? A survey of US internal medicine subspecialty fellows.. Am J Kidney Dis, 61(4), 540–546. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2012.10.025
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  - Desai, T., Sparks, M. A., Nair, V., Sethi, S. K., Topf, J., Calderon, K., … Jhaveri, K. D. (2013). The state of the blog: the first year of eAJKD.. Am J Kidney Dis, 61(1), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2012.10.013
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  - Herrera, M., Sparks, M. A., Alfonso-Pecchio, A. R., Harrison-Bernard, L. M., & Coffman, T. M. (2013). Lack of specificity of commercial antibodies leads to misidentification of angiotensin type 1 receptor protein.. Hypertension, 61(1), 253–258. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.112.203679
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  - Sparks, M. A., Makhanova, N. A., Griffiths, R. C., Snouwaert, J. N., Koller, B. H., & Coffman, T. M. (2013). Thromboxane receptors in smooth muscle promote hypertension, vascular remodeling, and sudden death.. Hypertension, 61(1), 166–173. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.112.193250
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  - Shah, H. H., Jhaveri, K. D., Sparks, M. A., & Mattana, J. (2012). Career choice selection and satisfaction among US adult nephrology fellows.. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol, 7(9), 1513–1520. https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.01620212
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  - Zhang, J.-D., Patel, M. B., Song, Y.-S., Griffiths, R., Burchette, J., Ruiz, P., … Crowley, S. D. (2012). A novel role for type 1 angiotensin receptors on T lymphocytes to limit target organ damage in hypertension.. Circ Res, 110(12), 1604–1617. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.261768
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  - Stegbauer, J., Gurley, S. B., Sparks, M. A., Woznowski, M., Kohan, D. E., Yan, M., … Coffman, T. M. (2011). AT1 receptors in the collecting duct directly modulate the concentration of urine.. J Am Soc Nephrol, 22(12), 2237–2246. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2010101095
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  - Sparks, M. A., O’Seaghdha, C. M., Sethi, S. K., & Jhaveri, K. D. (2011). Embracing the Internet as a means of enhancing medical education in nephrology.. Am J Kidney Dis, 58(4), 512–518. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2011.06.009
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  - Gurley, S. B., Riquier-Brison, A. D. M., Schnermann, J., Sparks, M. A., Allen, A. M., Haase, V. H., … Coffman, T. M. (2011). AT1A angiotensin receptors in the renal proximal tubule regulate blood pressure.. Cell Metab, 13(4), 469–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2011.03.001
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  - Eckel, J., Lavin, P. J., Finch, E. A., Mukerji, N., Burch, J., Gbadegesin, R., … Winn, M. P. (2011). TRPC6 enhances angiotensin II-induced albuminuria.. J Am Soc Nephrol, 22(3), 526–535. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2010050522
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  - Sparks, M. A., Parsons, K. K., Stegbauer, J., Gurley, S. B., Vivekanandan-Giri, A., Fortner, C. N., … Coffman, T. M. (2011). Angiotensin II type 1A receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells do not influence aortic remodeling in hypertension.. Hypertension, 57(3), 577–585. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.110.165274
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  - Sparks, M. A., & Coffman, T. M. (2010). The EP4 receptor for prostaglandin E2 in glomerular disease: a good receptor turned bad?. J Am Soc Nephrol, 21(10), 1597–1599. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2010080870
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  - Crowley, S. D., Song, Y. S., Sprung, G., Griffiths, R., Sparks, M., Yan, M., … Ruiz, P. (2010). Response to angiotensin II type 1a-deficient bone marrow-derived dendritic cells produce higher levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1. Hypertension, 56(1). https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.110.153544
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  - Crowley, S. D., Song, Y.-S., Sprung, G., Griffiths, R., Sparks, M., Yan, M., … Ruiz, P. (2010). A role for angiotensin II type 1 receptors on bone marrow-derived cells in the pathogenesis of angiotensin II-dependent hypertension.. Hypertension, 55(1), 99–108. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.144964
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- Book Sections
  - Singh, H., Sparks, M. A., & Haller, H. (2018). Thrombotic microangiopathies. In Nephrology Secrets: Fourth Edition (pp. 283–286). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-47871-7.00050-2
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  - Olyaei, A. J., Lerma, E. V., Tuchman, S. A., & Sparks, M. A. (2015). Rational dosing of chemotherapy in patients with kidney failure. In Onconephrology: Cancer, Chemotherapy and the Kidney (pp. 105–129). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2659-6_6
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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke

In the News

Awards & Honors

Subject Headings

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Books

Academic Articles

Book Sections