Prof. Dhiren Kumar

I’m a transplant nephrologist and Professor of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, where I care for kidney and pancreas transplant recipients and living donors, and lead programs focused on getting more patients safely to transplant. As Co-Medical Director of the Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program and Medical Director of the Living Donor Kidney Transplant Program at VCU Health, I work across the full transplant journey — evaluation, listing, surgery, and long-term care. My clinical and research focus is precision diagnostics in transplantation: using donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) and molecular phenotyping (the Molecular Microscope / MMDx) to detect and guide therapy for rejection earlier and more accurately, so we treat the patients who truly need it and spare those who don’t. I’ve authored 45+ peer-reviewed publications, including work in Nature Medicine, the American Journal of Transplantation, JASN, and Transplantation, and serve as principal investigator on multiple clinical trials in transplant immunosuppression, infection prophylaxis, and rejection diagnostics. I’m also committed to teaching — I previously directed our Transplant Nephrology Fellowship and continue to mentor fellows, residents, and students. Recognized as a Top Doctor in Nephrology — Richmond Magazine (2024, 2025, 2026) and Virginia Business (2025, 2026). Always glad to connect with colleagues in transplantation, nephrology, and diagnostics innovation.

Board certifications