Richard J. Johnson MD

Dr. Richard J Johnson is a Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension at the University of Colorado. Dr. Johnson has a major research interest in the underlying causes of kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertension. His research has focused on the role of sugar (and particularly fructose). Most recently his interest has focused on the etiology of epidemics of chronic kidney disease in Central American and other hot areas of the world, and his group has linked this with recurrent heat stress and dehydration that may be exacerbated both by poor rehydration choices (soft drinks) as well as by increasing temperatures and heatwaves. His group is actively studying the processes involved in protection against heat stress and dehydration and also potential ways these protective mechanisms can break down leading to acute and chronic kidney damage.