Speaker: Dr. Daniel Brooks. Bio: Dr. Brooks' current primary area of research focuses on the causes of an epidemic of chronic kidney disease of undetermined etiology (CKDu) that primarily affects poorer male manual laborers in Central America and other regions. Since 2009, he has led an international team of researchers with most of the work conducted in Nicaragua (http://www.bu.edu/sph/research/research-landing-page/research-group-for-the-study-of-chronic-kidney-disease-in-central-america/). The research is informed by a lifecourse approach, focusing on occupational risks and early life exposures, as well as genetic susceptibility that might potentiate environmental exposures. Suspected environmental factors under investigation include heat stress and dehydration, agrichemicals, infectious agents, metals, and medications with potential for kidney toxicity. Dr. Brooks also is an Executive Board member of the Consortium on the Epidemic of Nephropathy in Central America and Mexico (CENCAM), an organization of researchers, clinicians, and public health professionals.