MEDICAID NOTICE: Lurie Children’s continues to serve all patients enrolled in Medicaid. As a safety-net hospital, we will continue providing high-quality care to every child who needs us.

AVISO SOBRE MEDICAID: Lurie Children’s continúa atendiendo a todos los pacientes inscritos en Medicaid. Como hospital perteneciente a la red de protección social, continuaremos brindando atención de alta calidad a cada niño que nos necesite.

Kidney Genetics Program

The clinic for the Kidney Genetics (Nephrogenetics) Program includes a team of specialists at Lurie Children’s who have different areas of expertise. The Program was developed to provide the best possible comprehensive care for patients with genetic kidney diseases and their families. 

What Can Genetics Tell Us About Kidney Disease?

We know there are certain kidney diseases with a known genetic basis such as polycystic kidney disease, Alport syndrome, and nephrotic syndrome. Since our understanding of how genetics affects kidney disease has increased, we have also learned that genetics influences:

  • Kidney function and development
  • Risk of, severity and progression of kidney disease
  • A person’s response to therapies to treat kidney disease

Why Choose Lurie Children’s?

Kidney specialist (nephrologist) Meredith Harris, MD, and genetic counselor Jaime Duncan, MS, CGC, lead the care team. Together, they have broad experience in treating patients who have genetic kidney conditions. Our team is dedicated to supporting and advocating for both the physical and emotional needs of children and their families. 

Conditions We Treat

Our specialists evaluate and treat a wide range of genetic kidney diseases including: 


Our Specialists

Meredith Harris, MD

Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)

Jaime C. Duncan, MS, CGC

Genetic Counselor I, Genetics, Genomics and Metabolism

What to Expect

Appointments for our Kidney Genetics Program take place by way of telemedicine. You and your child will either have a combined appointment with a genetic counselor (Jaime Duncan, MS, CGC) and a nephrologist Dr. Meredith Harris, or meet with a genetic counselor only. There may be other team members present, such as medical trainees. 

During your appointment our team will:

  • Ask you questions about your child’s medical, surgical and family history
  • Review your testing options and discuss the benefits, limitations and potential impact of pursuing genetic testing
    • Note: If your child has already had genetic testing, our team can review and explain these results. If you have copies of your child’s genetic test results, it would be helpful to share these with our team via MyChart prior to the visit.
  • Explain what next steps we recommend, such as medical imaging, urine and/or blood testing, if these have not been done already
  • Provide referrals to other specialists if needed 

Make an Appointment

Call the Division of Genetics to schedule a first-time or return appointment.

Questions?

For more information, please call our Clinic Coordinator, Jaime Duncan at 312.227.7697.

Resources and Support