Thomas Weimbs

Professor
Thomas Weimbs
Thomas Weimbs
Born
Germany
EducationUniversity of Cologne
Known forDiscoveries relating to Polycystic Kidney Disease
mTOR pathway
Ketogenic metabolic therapy
AwardsInnovator Award, Cleveland Clinic (2006)
Scientific career
FieldsMolecular biology
Cell biology
Nephrology
WorkplacesUniversity of California, Santa Barbara, Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University
ThesisFunktionelle Lokalisation der Cystein-Reste und Untersuchungen zur Membran-Topologie des Myelin-Proteolipidproteins (1993)
Wilhelm Stoffel
Other academic advisors
Keith E. Mostov
Websitehttps://labs.mcdb.ucsb.edu/weimbs/thomas

Thomas Weimbs (born in Germany) is a German-American molecular biologist and cell biologist. He is a professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and the head of the Weimbs Laboratory.[1][2]

Career

Weimbs earned his Diplom Chemiker (MS) in 1990 and his Dr. rer. nat. (Ph.D.) in 1993 from the University of Cologne, Germany, researching the structure of the myelin proteolipid protein and its mutations in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease.[3][4] He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at the Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) from 1994 to 1999, studying the role of the SNARE membrane fusion machinery in polarized membrane trafficking in epithelial cells.[5][6][7] In 1999, he became an Assistant Staff member at the Lerner Research Institute of the Cleveland Clinic.[1] Concurrently, he served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University from 2004 to 2005.[1] Weimbs transitioned to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2005 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. He attained the rank of Associate Professor with tenure in 2007 and was appointed as a full Professor in 2014.[8] In 2020, Weimbs founded Santa Barbara Nutrients, Inc., where he acts as the President and Chief Scientific Officer.[9][10]

Research

Initially Weimbs studied intracellular membrane trafficking, mapping the differential localization of SNARE proteins and syntaxin isoforms in polarized epithelial cells.[11]

His research then transitioned to the underlying molecular mechanisms and potential treatments for polycystic kidney disease (PKD).[2][12] His laboratory identified the abnormal activation of the mTOR and STAT signaling pathways in PKD, establishing parallels between cyst growth and normal renal injury repair processes.[13][14][15] More recently, his research focuses on metabolic interventions to mitigate PKD progression.[16][17] He demonstrated that inducing ketosis via a ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, or administration of the ketone beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) can slow or partially reverse cyst growth in animal models.[16][18][19] This research subsequently led to retrospective case studies and clinical trials indicating the feasibility and positive metabolic impact of ketogenic regimens for human PKD patients.[19][20][21] Additionally, his lab discovered that microcrystal injury in kidney tubules triggers a conserved reno-protective response leading to tubule dilation that can worsen the progression of PKD, and that this can be prevented by citrate supplementation.[22][23] Weimbs is the inventor on several patents on the use of the combination of BHB and citrate for the treatment or management of PKD and other kidney diseases.[24][25]

In addition to dietary interventions, Weimbs investigates targeted immunotherapies, such as utilizing transcytosing dimeric IgA monoclonal antibodies to directly deliver therapeutics into epithelial-enclosed kidney cysts.[26]

Distinctions

Selected works

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Curriculum Vitae Thomas Weimbs, Ph.D." University of California Santa Barbara. 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  2. 1 2 Messing, Melina; Torres, Jacob A.; Holznecht, Nickolas; Weimbs, Thomas (2024). "Trigger Warning: How Modern Diet, Lifestyle, and Environment Pull the Trigger on Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Progression". Nutrients. 16 (19): 3281. doi:10.3390/nu16193281. PMC 11479178. PMID 39408247.
  3. ↑ Weimbs, Thomas (1993). "Funktionelle Lokalisation der Cystein-Reste und Untersuchungen zur Membran-Topologie des Myelin-Proteolipidproteins". katalog.ub.uni-koeln.de. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  4. ↑ WEIMBS, THOMAS; DICK, Tobias; STOFFEL, Wilhelm; BOLTSHAUSER, Eugen (1990-01-01). "A Point Mutation at the X-Chromosomal Proteolipid Protein Locus in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease Leads to Disruption of Myelinogenesis". Biological Chemistry Hoppe-Seyler. 371 (2): 1175–1184. doi:10.1515/bchm3.1990.371.2.1175. ISSN 0177-3593. PMID 1708672.
  5. ↑ Weimbs, Thomas; Low, Seng Hui; Chapin, Steven J.; Mostov, Keith E.; Bucher, Philipp; Hofmann, Kay (1997-04-01). "A conserved domain is present in different families of vesicular fusion proteins: A new superfamily". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 94 (7): 3046–3051. Bibcode:1997PNAS...94.3046W. doi:10.1073/pnas.94.7.3046. PMC 20319. PMID 9096343.
  6. ↑ Low, Seng Hui; Chapin, Steven J.; Wimmer, Christian; Whiteheart, Sidney W.; Kömüves, László G.; Mostov, Keith E.; Weimbs, Thomas (1998-06-29). "The SNARE Machinery Is Involved in Apical Plasma Membrane Trafficking in MDCK Cells". The Journal of Cell Biology. 141 (7): 1503–1513. doi:10.1083/jcb.141.7.1503. ISSN 0021-9525. PMC 2133007. PMID 9647644.
  7. ↑ Weimbs, Thomas; Mostov, Keith; Hui Low, Seng; Hofmann, Kay (December 1998). "A model for structural similarity between different SNARE complexes based on sequence relationships". Trends in Cell Biology. 8 (7): 260–262. doi:10.1016/s0962-8924(98)01285-9. ISSN 0962-8924. PMID 9714596.
  8. ↑ "Thomas Weimbs". The Current. 2025-11-18. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  9. ↑ Muensterman, E (2025). "Real-world outcomes of managing autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease using a medical food as part of a nutrition and lifestyle program to improve renal and metabolic health". Frontiers in Nutrition. 12 1624639. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1624639. PMC 12869025. PMID 41648752.
  10. ↑ "Thomas Weimbs: Pioneering PKD Researcher". Santa Barbara Nutrients. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  11. ↑ Low, Seng Hui (1996). "Differential Localization of Syntaxin Isoforms in Polarized MDCK Cells". Molecular Biology of the Cell. 7 (12): 2007–2018. doi:10.1091/mbc.7.12.2007. PMC 276046. PMID 8970161.
  12. ↑ Weimbs, Thomas (2007). "Polycystic kidney disease and renal injury repair: common pathways, fluid flow, and the function of polycystin-1". American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology. 293 (5): F1423–F1432. doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00275.2007. PMID 17715262.
  13. ↑ Shillingford, Jonathan M.; Murcia, Noel S.; Larson, Claire H.; Low, Seng Hui; Hedgepeth, Ryan; Brown, Nicole; Flask, Chris A.; Novick, Andrew C.; Goldfarb, David A.; Kramer-Zucker, Albrecht; Walz, Gerd; Piontek, Klaus B.; Germino, Gregory G.; Weimbs, Thomas (2006-04-04). "The mTOR pathway is regulated by polycystin-1, and its inhibition reverses renal cystogenesis in polycystic kidney disease". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 103 (14): 5466–5471. doi:10.1073/pnas.0509694103. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 1459378. PMID 16567633.
  14. ↑ Low, Seng Hui; Vasanth, Shivakumar; Larson, Claire H.; Mukherjee, Sambuddho; Sharma, Nikunj; Kinter, Michael T.; Kane, Michelle E.; Obara, Tomoko; Weimbs, Thomas (January 2006). "Polycystin-1, STAT6, and P100 Function in a Pathway that Transduces Ciliary Mechanosensation and Is Activated in Polycystic Kidney Disease". Developmental Cell. 10 (1): 57–69. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2005.12.005. PMID 16399078.
  15. ↑ Talbot, Jeffrey J.; Shillingford, Jonathan M.; Vasanth, Shivakumar; Doerr, Nicholas; Mukherjee, Sambuddho; Kinter, Mike T.; Watnick, Terry; Weimbs, Thomas (2011-05-10). "Polycystin-1 regulates STAT activity by a dual mechanism". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 108 (19): 7985–7990. Bibcode:2011PNAS..108.7985T. doi:10.1073/pnas.1103816108. PMC 3093515. PMID 21518865.
  16. 1 2 Torres, Jacob A.; Kruger, Samantha L.; Broderick, Caroline; Amarlkhagva, Tselmeg; Agrawal, Shagun; Dodam, John R.; Mrug, Michal; Lyons, Leslie A.; Weimbs, Thomas (December 2019). "Ketosis Ameliorates Renal Cyst Growth in Polycystic Kidney Disease". Cell Metabolism. 30 (6): 1007–1023.e5. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2019.09.012. ISSN 1550-4131. PMC 6904245. PMID 31631001.
  17. ↑ Oehm, Simon (2022). "RESET-PKD: a pilot trial on short-term ketogenic interventions in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease". Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. 38 (7): 1623–1635. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfac311. PMC 10435930. PMID 36423335.
  18. ↑ Torres, Jacob A. (2024). "A combination of β-hydroxybutyrate and citrate ameliorates disease progression in a rat model of polycystic kidney disease". American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology. 326 (3): F352–F368. doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00205.2023. PMC 11207547. PMID 38095025.
  19. 1 2 Cukoski, Sadrija; Lindemann, Christoph Heinrich; Arjune, Sita; Todorova, Polina; Brecht, Theresa; Kühn, Adrian; Oehm, Simon; Strubl, Sebastian; Becker, Ingrid; Kämmerer, Ulrike; Torres, Jacob Alexander; Meyer, Franziska; Schömig, Thomas; Hokamp, Nils Große; Siedek, Florian (November 2023). "Feasibility and impact of ketogenic dietary interventions in polycystic kidney disease: KETO-ADPKD—a randomized controlled trial". Cell Reports Medicine. 4 (11) 101283. doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101283. ISSN 2666-3791. PMC 10694658. PMID 37935200.
  20. ↑ Strubl, Sebastian (2021). "Ketogenic dietary interventions in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease—a retrospective case series study: first insights into feasibility, safety and effects". Clinical Kidney Journal. 15 (6): 1079–1092. doi:10.1093/ckj/sfab162. PMC 9155228. PMID 35664270.
  21. ↑ Messing, Melina; Muensterman, Emily; Marcon, Serena; Weimbs, Thomas (2026-06-29). "Halting cyst progression in ADPKD using long-term ketogenic metabolic therapy and supplementation with exogenous ketones and alkaline citrate—a case series". Frontiers in Nutrition. 13 1843178. doi:10.3389/fnut.2026.1843178. ISSN 2296-861X. PMC 13357147. PMID 42445794.
  22. ↑ Torres, Jacob A.; Rezaei, Mina; Broderick, Caroline; Lin, Louis; Wang, Xiaofang; Hoppe, Bernd; Cowley, Benjamin D.; Savica, Vincenzo; Torres, Vicente E.; Khan, Saeed; Holmes, Ross P.; Mrug, Michal; Weimbs, Thomas (2025-05-01). "Crystal deposition triggers tubule dilation that accelerates cystogenesis in polycystic kidney disease". Journal of Clinical Investigation. 135 (9) e193824. doi:10.1172/jci193824. ISSN 1558-8238. PMC 12043096. PMID 40309775.
  23. ↑ Torres, Jacob A.; Holznecht, Nickolas; Asplund, David A.; Amarlkhagva, Tselmeg; Kroes, Bradley C.; Rebello, Juliette; Agrawal, Shagun; Weimbs, Thomas (2024-03-01). "A combination of β-hydroxybutyrate and citrate ameliorates disease progression in a rat model of polycystic kidney disease". American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology. 326 (3): F352–F368. doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00205.2023. ISSN 1931-857X. PMC 11207547. PMID 38095025.
  24. ↑ US11013705B2, Weimbs, Thomas; Torres, Jacob & Thangaraju, Muthusamy, "Methods and compositions for supporting renal health", issued 2021-05-25
  25. ↑ "Google Patents". patents.google.com. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  26. ↑ Schimmel, MF (2025). "Development of a cyst-targeted therapy for polycystic kidney disease using an antagonistic dimeric IgA monoclonal antibody against cMET". Cell Reports Medicine. 6 (9) 102335. doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102335. PMC 12490227. PMID 40914166.
  27. ↑ Low, Seng Hui; Chapin, Steven J.; Wimmer, Christian; Whiteheart, Sidney W.; Kömüves, László G.; Mostov, Keith E.; Weimbs, Thomas (1998-06-29). "The SNARE Machinery Is Involved in Apical Plasma Membrane Trafficking in MDCK Cells". Journal of Cell Biology. 141 (7): 1503–1513. doi:10.1083/jcb.141.7.1503. ISSN 0021-9525. PMC 2133007. PMID 9647644.
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