Melina Messing, PhD

I’m Dr. Melina Messing, an immunologist, postdoctoral researcher in the Weimbs Lab at UC Santa Barbara, and most importantly—a patient living with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). After years of being told that “nothing can be done,” I turned to science to explore what can be done.

I earned my PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia and now study the intersection of immune function, nutrition, and kidney disease. My personal experience with PKD inspired me to co-develop the Ren-Nu Program—a patient-centered, evidence-based approach to managing kidney health through ketogenic metabolic therapy and lifestyle change.

I’m passionate about translating research into practical tools that support patients in taking charge of their health. My recent open-access review, Trigger Warning: How Modern Diet, Lifestyle, and Environment Pull the Trigger on ADPKD Progression, explores how dietary and environmental triggers—not just genes—drive PKD progression.

Learn more about Dr. Melina Messing and the Ren-Nu Program:

• Website: Ren-Nu.org
• Twitter: @MelinaMessing
• LinkedIn: Melina Messing
• MyMojoMarket: KetoCitra