Dr. Richard Johnson is a distinguished physician-scientist and internationally recognized authority in nephrology and metabolic disease research. He currently holds the position of Professor Emeritus of Medicine in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where he has made seminal contributions to our understanding of kidney disease and metabolic disorders. A graduate with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BS in Anthropology in 1975, he earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1979 before completing his internship, residency, and dual fellowships in nephrology and infectious diseases at the University of Washington. Dr. Johnson has held leadership positions as Chief of the Kidney Division at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Florida, and the University of Colorado, where he served until stepping down in 2017 while continuing his research and clinical work.
Dr. Johnson's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of the relationship between dietary factors, particularly fructose, and the development of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and kidney disease. His pioneering work demonstrating how fructose metabolism triggers a "survival switch" that promotes fat storage and insulin resistance has provided a unifying theory for the epidemics of obesity and related conditions affecting modern populations. With over 83,000 citations, his research has reshaped clinical approaches to metabolic disorders and influenced public health recommendations worldwide. His identification of the role of uric acid in metabolic disease pathogenesis has opened new therapeutic avenues, with several clinical trials now investigating uric acid-lowering strategies for treating obesity-related complications.
As the founding editor of Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology and a former member of multiple prestigious editorial boards, Dr. Johnson has shaped the discourse in nephrology and metabolic medicine for decades. His influential book "Nature Wants Us to Be Fat" has brought his research to a broader audience, highlighting the evolutionary basis of metabolic disease and evidence-based strategies for prevention and management. Recognized with the David Hume Award from the National Kidney Foundation and election to the American Society of Clinical Investigation, his work continues to inspire new generations of researchers investigating the connections between diet, metabolism, and chronic disease. Currently maintaining an active research program at the University of Colorado, Dr. Johnson is exploring novel interventions targeting fructose metabolism and uric acid pathways to address the global epidemics of obesity, diabetes, and kidney disease.
