Dr. Rajiv Agarwal is a distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine with a longstanding affiliation at the Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis. His medical education began with the attainment of his MB,BS degree followed by specialized training that positioned him at the forefront of hypertension and kidney disease research within the Veterans Affairs healthcare system. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Agarwal maintained a dual commitment to clinical practice serving veteran populations and academic research, establishing himself as a leading authority in cardiovascular-renal medicine across the Department of Veterans Affairs. His leadership in the nephrology division has been instrumental in developing evidence-based protocols for managing complex hypertension cases among veterans with chronic kidney disease.
Dr. Agarwal's pioneering research program has focused extensively on the diagnosis and management of hypertension in hemodialysis patients and those with chronic kidney disease, with particular emphasis on renoprotective therapeutic strategies. His laboratory established comprehensive measurement techniques including glomerular filtration rate assessment, renal plasma flow monitoring, ambulatory blood pressure tracking, and cardiac output evaluation to better understand cardiovascular-renal pathophysiology. His landmark 2021 publication on sex differences in ambulatory blood pressure control and its association with end-stage kidney disease and mortality has significantly influenced clinical practice guidelines across the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system. Dr. Agarwal also developed a full-service research echocardiographic laboratory with dedicated vascular technicians to advance the understanding of cardiac structural and functional adaptations in renal disease patients.
As a leading researcher in nephrology, Dr. Agarwal has contributed numerous scholarly publications that have shaped contemporary approaches to hypertension management in renal patients across the United States. His investigations into oxidative stress mechanisms and their impact on vascular endothelium and kidney function have opened new avenues for therapeutic intervention in cardiovascular complications of kidney disease. Through his dual appointments at Indiana University and the VA Medical Center, Dr. Agarwal has mentored generations of nephrology specialists while maintaining an active research agenda even in his emeritus status. His ongoing scholarly contributions continue to inform clinical practice and drive innovation in the management of hypertension among patients with chronic kidney disease throughout the Veterans Affairs healthcare system.
