Nishad Jayasundara, PhD
Dr. Nishad Jayasundara, the Juli Plant Grainger Assistant Professor of Global Environmental Health at Duke University, is a leading voice in the study of how environmental stressors impact human health, particularly in vulnerable and underserved populations. With appointments across the School of Medicine, the Nicholas School of the Environment, and the Duke Global Health Institute, his interdisciplinary work bridges environmental toxicology, global health, and clinical medicine.
At the heart of Dr. Jayasundara’s research is a growing global health crisis: the rise of chronic kidney disease of unknown cause (CKDu) in rural agricultural communities. Unlike traditional kidney disease, CKDu affects young, otherwise healthy individuals—often men in their 30s and 40s—who lack common risk factors like diabetes or hypertension. His investigations span regions such as Sri Lanka, Central America, India, and even parts of North Carolina, where agricultural workers are increasingly exposed to extreme heat and agrochemicals. In some areas, like Nicaragua, CKDu has become the second leading cause of death, with entire communities devastated by the disease.
Dr. Jayasundara’s approach combines fieldwork with advanced data collection methods, including satellite imagery and wearable heat monitors, to understand how climate change, occupational hazards, and environmental toxins contribute to kidney damage. His work not only seeks to uncover the biological mechanisms behind CKDu but also aims to inform public health strategies that can protect at-risk populations from this silent epidemic. Through his research, Dr. Jayasundara is helping to illuminate the urgent need for environmental justice and health equity in the face of a changing climate.