Science and medicine studies in San Francisco, California

The Northern California Institute for Research and Education is a scientific community of clinicians and researchers located in San Francisco, California. Partnered with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), our institution is dedicated to bringing the power of modern medicine to the health of our nation’s Veterans. One of our recent studies, led by Drs. Phyllis Tien and Jorge Kizer, focuses on the impact of HIV and HIV-specific factors on myocardial disease in women. This research aims to close the gap in research between men and women with HIV, specifically looking at cardiovascular disease risk in individuals with HIV.

Dr. Sandhya Kharbanda, MD is a world-class pediatric hematologist-oncologist and bone marrow transplant specialist located at 1975 4th Street, San Francisco, California. As the Medical Director of the Pediatric BMT Program at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco, Dr. Kharbanda is dedicated to providing extraordinary care for children with blood disorders and stem cell transplantation needs. With a special interest in inherited metabolic disorders, she works with a multidisciplinary team to ensure the best possible outcomes for her patients. Dr. Kharbanda received her medical degree from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in India and completed her residency in pediatrics at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. She then went on to complete fellowships in pediatric hematology and oncology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and pediatric bone marrow transplantation at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Prior to joining UCSF, she worked at Stanford University School of Medicine and University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Wesley Kidder, MD is a renowned gastrointestinal oncologist located at 1600 Divisadero Street in San Francisco, California. Specializing in colon and rectal cancers, as well as neuroendocrine tumors, Dr. Kidder is dedicated to studying the impact of the gut microbiome on the development and treatment of these cancers. His research includes investigating changes in the microbiome following oral chemotherapy treatment. Dr. Kidder earned his medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of California, San Diego. He then went on to complete a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at UCSF, where he also served as the chief fellow.

Dr. Jonathan Chou, MD, PhD is a genitourinary oncologist and cancer researcher located at 1825 4th Street in San Francisco, California. Dr. Chou specializes in treating cancers affecting the genital and urinary organs, such as prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancers. He utilizes precision medicine techniques to tailor treatment plans for each individual patient, including targeted therapies and immunotherapy. As a physician-scientist, Dr. Chou is dedicated to advancing medical research in the field of oncology. His research focuses on developing more precise ways to treat cancer by studying molecular subtypes, using genome-editing technology, and conducting genetic and drug screening. He is also actively involved in investigating drug resistance using patient-derived tumor xenografts.

Dr. Susan Kim, MD, MMS is a pediatric rheumatologist located at 1825 4th Street, San Francisco, California, United States. She specializes in caring for children and adolescents with inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma. Dr. Kim has expertise in vasculitis, juvenile dermatomyositis, and other conditions affecting blood vessels. She leads the combined rheumatology and dermatology clinic at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, focusing on improving care for children with inflammatory skin diseases. Dr. Kim's research centers around juvenile dermatomyositis and other rheumatic diseases. She is the principal investigator at UCSF for the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry. Dr. Kim obtained her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine and a master of medical science degree from Harvard Medical School. She completed her residency in pediatrics at New York – Presbyterian Hospital and a fellowship in pediatric rheumatology at Boston Children's Hospital.