Hui Cai, MD

Dr. Hui Cai received his medical degree from Wenzhou Medical College, China. He did his residency training in Wenzhou Medical College and his Nephrology training in Hua Shan Hospital at Fudan University School of Medicine (Formerly Shanghai Medical University) in China. In 1992, Dr. Cai came to LSU Medical Center at New Orleans and Tulane University School of Medicine for his post-docteral fellow training. He subsequently went on for Internal Medicine residency training at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, New York in 1997 and for Nephrology fellowship training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland in 2000. After finishing his fellowship Dr. Cai became an Instructor and later promoted to Assistant Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He was recruited to Emory University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Cai is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Physiology. The main research interests in his laboratory is to investigate the role of WNK kinase in the regulation of renal sodium chloride cotransporter and Maxi K channel. His research has been supported by NIH and AHA fundings. His clinical expertise includes general nephrology and hypertension.
The main interests of Dr. Cai's laboratory are to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of sodium chloride cotransporter and Maxi K channel by WNK kinase. The WNK (with no lysine (k)) kinase is a novel serine/threonine kinase. The mutations in two members of this kinase family cause pseudohypoaldosteronism type II (PHA II), also referred to as Gordon syndrome. The clinical feature of PHA II includes hypertension, hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis. To further elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying PHA II will provide a novel insight into the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.
Dr. Cai has weekly renal clinic at the Emory Clinic and Atlanta VAMC. His clinical experties include genetic kidney diseases, secondary hypertension and general clinical nephrology. Dr. Cai has also attended on renal consultation services at Emory University Hospital and Atlanta VAMC. He provides clinical services to various patients with acute or acute on chronic kidney diseases as well as delivers cares to patients of acute kidney injuries with various renal replacement therapies including hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT).
Dr. Cai has been actively involved in teaching clinical nephrology for renal fellows and renal pathophysiology for medical students.
Dr. Cai is currently serving as an editorial board member for American Journal of Physiology Renal. He is also a member of numerous national medical societies such as American Society of Nephrology, American Heart Association, National Kidney Foundation, and American Physiological Society.