Dr. Boyd-Shiwarski’s research interests are potassium homeostasis and ion transport, with a focus on the regulation of the NCC (sodium-chloride cotransporter) by WNK (With-No-Lysine) kinases. WNK kinases are the only known kinases that directly bind chloride and act as regulators of potassium homeostasis. Her recent studies of have focused on the role of a kidney specific isoform of WNK1 in localizing WNK kinases to a protein complex.
Dr. Boyd-Shiwarski is interested in the clinical management of hypertension and chronic kidney disease and how our diet affects the progression of these diseases. 98% of the US population does not meet the daily recommendation for dietary potassium intake (mostly from fruit and vegetables), and inadequate potassium intake is directly linked to the development of hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Both hypertension and chronic kidney disease have become a global epidemic and a leading cause of death. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of these diseases is of vital importance. Additionally, she is interested in treating patients with inherited disorders that may lead to electrolyte imbalances and chronic kidney disease, including Fabry's disease, Gitelmans syndrome, Bartters syndrome, and Alport syndrome.
- BS, University of Arizona, 2001
- PhD, Dartmouth College, 2007
- MD, University of Pittsburgh, 2012
- Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2014
- Fellowship Training Program, Renal-Electrolyte, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2016
Education & Training
Boyd-Shiwarski CR, Beacham RT, Lashway JA, Querry KE, Griffiths SE, Shiwarski DJ, Knoell SA, Nguyen NH, Nkashama LJ, Valladares MN, Bandaru A, Marciszyn AL, Franks J, Sullivan M, Watkins SC, Rodan AR, Huang CL, Stocker SD, Kashlan OB, Subramanya AR. Kidney-specific WNK1 amplifies kidney tubule responsiveness to potassium via WNK body condensates. J Clin Invest. 2025 Jun 10;135(15):e188792. PMID: 40493421.
Boyd-Shiwarski C, Ray E, Subramanian H, Zharichenko N, Monroe A, Mahajan A. The Impact of a Commercial Electrolyte Beverage on the Hydration Status of Active Men and Women. Nutrients. 2025 Feb 5;17(3):585. PMID: 39940443.
Boyd-Shiwarski CR, Shiwarski DJ, Subramanya AR. A New Phase for WNK Kinase Signaling Complexes as Biomolecular Condensates. Physiology (Bethesda). 2024 Sep 1;39(5):0. PMID: 38624245.
Mutchler SM, Hasan M, Murphy CP, Baty CJ, Boyd-Shiwarski C, Kirabo A, Kleyman TR. Dietary sodium alters aldosterone's effect on renal sodium transporter expression and distal convoluted tubule remodelling. J Physiol. 2024 Mar;602(5):967-987. PMID: 38294810.
Boyd-Shiwarski CR, Shiwarski DJ, Griffiths SE, Beacham RT, Norrell L, Morrison DE, Wang J, Mann J, Tennant W, Anderson EN, Franks J, Calderon M, Connolly KA, Cheema MU, Weaver CJ, Nkashama LJ, Weckerly CC, Querry KE, Pandey UB, Donnelly CJ, Sun D, Rodan AR, Subramanya AR. WNK kinases sense molecular crowding and rescue cell volume via phase separation. Cell. 2022 Nov 23;185(24):4488-4506.e20. PMID: 36318922.
Boyd-Shiwarski CR, Weaver CJ, Beacham RT, Shiwarski DJ, Connolly KA, Nkashama LJ, Mutchler SM, Griffiths SE, Knoell SA, Sebastiani RS, Ray EC, Marciszyn AL, Subramanya AR. Effects of extreme potassium stress on blood pressure and renal tubular sodium transport. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2020 Jun 1;318(6):F1341-F1356. PMID: 32281415.
Boyd-Shiwarski CR, Shiwarski DJ, Roy A, Namboodiri HN, Nkashama LJ, Xie J, McClain KL, Marciszyn A, Kleyman TR, Tan RJ, Stolz DB, Puthenveedu MA, Huang CL, Subramanya AR. Potassium-regulated distal tubule WNK bodies are kidney-specific WNK1 dependent. Mol Biol Cell. 2018 Feb 15;29(4):499-509. PMID: 29237822.
Boyd-Shiwarski CR, Subramanya AR. The renal response to potassium stress: integrating past with present. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 2017 Sep;26(5):411-418. PMID: 28614118.
Boyd C, Náray-Fejes-Tóth A. Steroid-mediated regulation of the epithelial sodium channel subunits in mammary epithelial cells. Endocrinology. 2007 Aug;148(8):3958-67. PMID: 17510235.
Boyd C, Náray-Fejes-Tóth A. Gene regulation of ENaC subunits by serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase-1. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2005 Mar;288(3):F505-12. PMID: 15536167.
- ASN Ben J. Lipps Research Fellowship, 2016
- Renal Fellows Teaching Award, 2016
- NIH K08 Awardee, 2018
- Young Physician-Scientist Award, American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2023
R01 DK142678, The molecular and physiologic effects of calcineurin inhibitors on WNK body bimolecular condensates, PI, 2026-2031.
