Guido Filler
Affiliations
Scientist, Division of Children’s Health and Therapeutics, Children's Health Research Institute
Chair, Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Professor, Departments of Paediatrics, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Acting Section Head, Paediatric Nephrology, Department of Paediatrics, Western University
Chief, Department of Paediatrics, Children’s Hospital, London Health Science Centre
How my research helps children
My work addresses various aspects of the management of children with kidney diseases and high blood pressure. One important area pertains to the measurement of kidney function. Ninety one scientific manuscripts have been published on measuring the ability of the kidney to clear toxins without involving a nuclear medicine scan, using low molecular weight proteins, especially Cystatin C. Measurement of this marker replaces the need for nuclear medicine scans and also serves as a better marker to monitor dialysis. Another important area is related to the changes of drug disposition and drug clearance related to the developing body of a child. Especially anti-rejection drugs and anti-viral drugs have been studied. This allows for an age appropriate and safe dosing of drugs in children across all ages.
Research
Current Research Activities
In collaboration with Dr. Robert Lindsay, Dr. William Clark and Dr. Shi-Han S. Huang, the use of Cystatin C as a marker of dialysis adequacy both in children and adults is being tested. We are also testing this marker in children with cystic fibrosis. This research project is generously supported by the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Together with Dr. Ajay Sharma, Dr. Filler studies hypertension in children. There are also several ongoing studies on slowing chronic kidney disease in children before and after kidney transplantation. Dr. Filler is also very involved in the departmental healthy weight study. Recently, through collaboration with the Paediatric Chairs of Canada, where Dr. Filler, together with the chair from Laval, is responsible for the manpower survey and human resource database, several research projects related to the supply of paediatricians and paediatric subspecialists have also surfaced and have led to the submission of a CIHR team grant. The research team consists of a consortium including Stats Canada, CAPER, CIHI and others. The aim of the research is to link health outcomes to access to paediatricians to inform the government about adequate human resource allocation in the entire country.
Research Team
There is close collaboration with Dr. Ajay Sharma (Associate Professor of Paediatrics), Dr. Abeer Yasin, PhD (applied mathematics), Tracy Robinson (coordinator of the healthy weight study), and multiple medical students and residents. Since Dr. Filler’s arrival in Canada, he brought 40 medical students and over 20 residents and fellows to publications in peer-reviewed journals (range 1-5).
Future Research Plans
To enhance the work on the measurement of renal function. To augment the work on slowing progression of chronic kidney disease through better treatment of hypertension. To continue with the clinical pharmacology work to better understand the developmental changes of drug disposition during childhood.
Awards & Grants
Awards & Grants
Funding in support of Estimating Renal Function using Cystatin C and Creatinine in the Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Population – Awarded by Canadina Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Funding in support of Cardiovascular Function in Obese Children and Adolescent – Awarded by Children’s Health Research Institute
Funding in support of Steroid-induced osteoporosis in the paediatric population – Canadian Incidence Study – Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Funding in support of Cystatin C as a Marker for Detecting Early Renal Dysfunction in a Pediatric Emergency Department – Awarded by The Physicians’ Services Incorporated Foundation
Funding in support of Childhood Obesity – Cross-sectional study on the prevalence of overweight children attending Children’s Hospital, London Health Science Centre – Awarded by Children’s Health Foundation
Recent Publications
Publications
A simple formula for estimation of extracellular volume - too simple? with Huang SHS Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011 Apr; 6(4):65-6.
Racial disparities in hemoglobin concentration in children with CKD Filler G, Huang SH, Sharma AP Am J Kidney Dis. 2010 Jun;55(6):981-3.
Progress in pediatric kidney transplantation Filler G, Huang SH Ther Drug Monit. 2010 Jun;32(3):250-2
Pediatric reference intervals for immunoglobulin G and its subclasses with Siemens immunonephelometric assays Lepage N, Huang SH, Nieuwenhuys E, Filler G
Clin Biochem. 2010 May;43(7-8):694-6
Random pharmacokinetic profiles of EC-MPS in children with autoimmune disease Filler G, Sharma AP, Levy DM, Yasin A. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2010 Jan 4;8(1):1
Rituximab in refractory nephrotic syndrome Prytuła A, Iijima K, Kamei K, Geary D, Gottlich E, Majeed A, Taylor M, Marks SD, Tuchman S, Camilla R, Ognjanovic M, Filler G, Smith G, Tullus K. Pediatr Nephrol. 2010 Mar;25(3):461-8 Relationships among serum iron, inflammation, and body mass index in children Sharma AP, McKenna AM, Lepage N, Nieuwenhuys E, Filler G Adv Pediatr. 2009;56:135-44.
Development of a beta-trace protein based formula for estimation of glomerular filtration rate Benlamri A, Nadarajah R, Yasin A, Lepage N, Sharma AP, Filler G. Pediatr Nephrol. 2010 Mar;25(3):485-90
Adherence to waiting-time targets for pediatric nephrology clinic referrals Radina M, Sharma AP, Yasin A, Filler G. Pediatr Nephrol. 2010 Feb;25(2):311-6
Pediatric reference intervals for soluble transferrin receptor and transferrin receptor-ferritin index Ooi CL, Lepage N, Nieuwenhuys E, Sharma AP, Filler G World J Pediatr. 2009 May;5(2):122-6.
Cystatin C levels in functionally anephric patients undergoing dialysis: the effect of different methods and intensities. Al-Malki N, Heidenheim PA, Filler G, Yasin A, Lindsay RM. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Oct;4(10):160
Contact
Contact
Phone:519-685-8600 x 8377
Fax: 519-685-8156
Email: guido [dot] filler [at] lhsc [dot] on [dot] ca
Website(s): www.uwo.ca/paediatrics/filler.htm
http://www.londonhospitals.ca/departments/medical_affairs/leadership/paediatrics.php
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