Harold Franch MD
Overview
Dr. Franch runs a laboratory looking at the influence of dietary protein on chronic kidney disease. His NIH funded work focuses on the role of protein metabolism in the development of diabetic renal hypertrophy and possible links to early diabetic kidney damage. He has discovered pathways of protein breakdown that are suppressed by diabetes including chaperone-mediated autophagy and macroautophagy. He is examining in the response of these pathways to growth factors, acid-base changes and alterations in dietary protein intake. He also contributes to a program project grant examining the role of acidosis and insulin resistance in the muscle wasting seen in diabetes and chronic kidney disease. In clinical research, he is interested in whether dietary protein intake or net acid load of diet influences kidney disease development and progression.
Dr. Franch has served as director of the Emory Kidney Stone Prevention clinic since 1997. The clinic takes a holistic approach including diet, lifestyle interventions, management of complicating diseases, and medications to reduce the number of kidney stones. He manages associated disorders such as renal tubular acidosis, interstitial nephritis, renal sarcoidosis, hyperoxaluria (primary and intestinal), and cystinuria. He is an expert in protein metabolism and serves as the President of the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism.
Dr. Franch serves at the Atlanta VA Medical Center in the general Nephrology clinic, dialysis unit, general consult, and internal medicine wards.
Academic Appointment
- Professor of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
Education
Degrees
- MD from Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Research
Publications
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Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Kidney Replacement Therapies Among Adults With Kidney Failure: An Observational Study of Variation by Patient Age.
Am J Kidney Dis Volume: 80 Page(s): 9 - 19
07/01/2022 Authors: Wilk AS; Cummings JR; Plantinga LC; Franch HA; Lea JP; Patzer RE -
Epidemiology of COVID-19 Infection in Hospitalized End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients in a Predominantly African-American Population.
Am J Nephrol Volume: 52 Page(s): 190 - 198
01/01/2021 Authors: Navarrete JE; Tong DC; Cobb J; Rahbari-Oskoui FF; Hosein D; Caberto SC; Lea JP; Franch HA -
Managing COVID-19-positive Solid Organ Transplant Recipients in the Community: What a Community Healthcare Provider Needs to Know.
Transplant Direct Volume: 6 Page(s): e633
12/01/2020 Authors: Basu A; Patzer R; Hosein D; Wang Z; Sharma N; Franch H; Rahbari Oskoui F; Gupta D; Subramanian R; Sridharan L -
Serious Fall Injury History and Adverse Health Outcomes After Initiating Hemodialysis Among Older U.S. Adults.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Volume: 73 Page(s): 1216 - 1221
08/10/2018 Authors: Bowling CB; Hall RK; Khakharia A; Franch HA; Plantinga LC -
Acute Kidney Injury in a Patient on Tenofovir Alafenamide Fumarate After Initiation of Treatment for Hepatitis C Virus Infection.
Open Forum Infect Dis Volume: 5 Page(s): ofy189
08/01/2018 Authors: Serota DP; Franch HA; Cartwright EJ -
Serious Fall Injuries Before and After Initiation of Hemodialysis Among Older ESRD Patients in the United States: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Am J Kidney Dis Volume: 70 Page(s): 76 - 83
07/01/2017 Authors: Plantinga LC; Patzer RE; Franch HA; Bowling CB -
Chronic kidney disease induces autophagy leading to dysfunction of mitochondria in skeletal muscle.
Am J Physiol Renal Physiol Volume: 312 Page(s): F1128 - F1140
06/01/2017 Authors: Su Z; Klein JD; Du J; Franch HA; Zhang L; Hassounah F; Hudson MB; Wang XH -
Association of Reduced eGFR and Albuminuria with Serious Fall Injuries among Older Adults.
Clin J Am Soc Nephrol Volume: 11 Page(s): 1236 - 1243
07/07/2016 Authors: Bowling CB; Bromfield SG; Colantonio LD; Gutirrez OM; Shimbo D; Reynolds K; Wright NC; Curtis JR; Judd SE; Franch H -
The authors reply.
Crit Care Med Volume: 44 Page(s): e447 - e448
06/01/2016 Authors: Sueblinvong V; Johnson DW; Weinstein GL; Connor MJ; Crozier I; Liddell AM; Franch HA; Wall BR; Kalil AC; Feldman M -
Peanuts or Pretzels? Changing Attitudes about Eating on Hemodialysis.
Clin J Am Soc Nephrol Volume: 11 Page(s): 747 - 749
05/06/2016 Authors: Franch H