Professor David Johnson

NHMRC Leadership Fellow

Centre for Health Services Research
Faculty of Medicine
david.johnson@uq.edu.au
+61 7 3176 5050

Overview

Professor David Johnson PSM

MB BS (Hons, Univ Medal), PhD (Syd), DMed(Res), FASN, FISN, FAHMS, FRACP

Department of Kidney and Transplant Services, Division of Medicine, Building 31, Princess Alexandra Hospital

david.johnson2@health.qld.gov.au

David Johnson is full-time Director of the Metro South Kidney and Transplant Service (MSKATS) and Medical Director of the Queensland Kidney Transplant Service (QKTS) at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Professor of Medicine and Professor of Population Health at University of Queensland, and Director of the Centre for Kidney Disease Research in Brisbane, Australia. He has a number of international leadership responsibilities, including Co-Chair of the International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN GKHA), Co-Chair of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) Guidelines on Peritonitis Prevention and Treatment, Co-Chair of the Global PDOPPS Steering Committee, Chair of SONG-PD, Immediate Past President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN), Past President of the ISPD (2018-2020), Past Councillor of the ISN (2013-2019), and member of the ISN-ACT, ISN Research and ISN Monitor groups. He is currently a chair or member of 11 national and 7 international guideline groups and is ranked by Expertscape as the “top-rated expert in dialysis in the world during the years 2013-2023.” He has influenced policy and practice through his leadership as Deputy Chair of the Australian Better Evidence And Translation in Chronic Kidney Disease (BEAT-CKD) program, Deputy Chair of the Australasian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN), Chair of the Primary Healthcare Education Advisory Committee to Kidney Health Australia (PEAK), Co-Chair of the Australasian Creatinine and eGFR Consensus Working Party, Co-Chair of the Australasian Proteinuria Consensus Working Party, Member and Past-Chair of the ANZDATA Registry Peritoneal Dialysis Working Group, and Past-Chair of the Queensland Statewide Renal Clinical Network.

Having published over 1200 original manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and presented over 550 abstracts at national and international scientific meetings, he brings critical expertise in designing and conducting multi-centre, multi-national randomised controlled trials (RCTs), developing national and international registries, using innovative research methodologies (such as registry-based RCTs) and implementing trial findings into practice. He has held lead roles in high-impact, large, multi-centre RCTs that have informed global clinical practice, including CKD-FIX, IDEAL, balANZ, HONEYPOT, TESTING, HERO, and IMPENDIA. He is currently principal investigator of the TEACH-PD and INCH-HD trials, and chair of the PHOSPHATE Trial Global Steering Committee. He helped establish the Australian Peritonitis Registry and led the highly successful National PD Peritonitis Quality Improvement Project, which reduced national peritonitis rates by two-thirds. He also led the universal implementation of automated laboratory reporting of eGFR in ANZ which increased national detection rates by 40%.

He has won numerous awards for both his basic science and clinical research science studies, including the ANZSN TJ Neale Award for “outstanding contributions to nephrologic science” (2005), the US National Kidney Foundation International Distinguished Medal (2014), the Canadian Society of Nephrology Dimitrios Oreopoulos Award (2017) and the Asia-Pacific Society of Nephrology Priscilla Kincaid-Smith Award (2021). He was a Queensland finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards in 2009 and was awarded a Public Service Medal by the Governor-General of Australia in 2011 for outstanding public service, particularly research into the early detection and management of kidney disease.

Research Interests

  • Peritoneal dialysis
  • Haemodialysis
  • Kidney transplantation
  • Chronic kidney disease

Research Impacts

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly recognised as a major public health problem in Australia and worldwide. The Centre for Kidney Disease Research (CKDR) is one of Australia’s leading kidney disease research centres with an international reputation for excellence in research. The researchers of the CKDR are working at the forefront of global trends in research to understand the cellular and molecular basis of kidney disease and to trial innovative new clinical treatments to improve the health and well-being of people with kidney disease. Renowned for its studies in acute and chronic kidney disease and kidney cancers, the CKDR has particular expertise in translating results from laboratory and clinical sciences for application to improve public health outcomes.

The vision of our research program is to increase global equity in access to affordable, sustainable, quality kidney care. Some of the major achivements of the research program to date have been determining the ideal time to commence dialysis, the role of statins in improving cardiovascular outcomes in patients with kidney disease, biocompatible peritoneal dialysis fluid use, glucose-sparing peritoneal dialysis prescriptions for people with diabetes and kidney failure, mupirocin versus honey prophylaxis in peritoneal dialysis, anaemia treatment in chronic kidney disease, the role of allopurinol in preventing CKD progression, and the role of oral steroids in IgA nephropathy. A significant dataset has also been generated from the largest health survey conducted in the world (Global Kidney Health Atlas 2017, 2019, 2023). It is available to researchers globally, has informed WHO policy, underpinned advocacy activities to put kidney health on the international agenda; allowed benchmarking of progress for individual countries; enabled longitudinal evaluation of the organisation and structure of kidney care globally to inform policy, and has been used to facilitate policy changes and care strategies in international jurisdictions (Mexico, Caribbean, Fiji, Malaysia). The program has standardised practice and halved pertioneal dialysis-related infection. Implementation of multi-pronged strategies, now emulated by Canada and USA, led to establishment of a peritonitis registry, a national quality improvement program and publication of >50 papers on peritonitis, which influenced international PD guidelines. Highly cited and adopted internationally, the International Society for Pertioneal Dialysis (ISPD Guidelines) are considered the gold standard by other kidney care guideline groups. Finally, significant knowledge has been generated through the internationally endorsed Stanardised Outcomes in NephroloGy (SONG) initiative which uses shared priorities of patients, carers and clinicians to identify core outcome measures for kidney research. The ultimate result of the research program will be patient-prioritised research questions with outputs of critical importance to the global kidney care community that will inform international guidelines and policy, build capacity for international research collaboration and leadership, facilitate kidney care quality monitoring and reporting, and improve health outcomes for people with chronic kidney disease.

Qualifications

  • Doctoral Diploma, The University of Queensland

Publications

  • Tannor, Elliot Koranteng, Davidson, Bianca, Nlandu, Yannick, Bagasha, Peace, Bilchut, Workagegnehu Hailu, Davids, M. Razeen, Diongole, Hassane M., Ekrikpo, Udeme E., Hafiz, Ehab O.A., Ibrahim, Kwaifa Salihu, Kalyesubula, Robert, Nalado, Aisha M., Olanrewaju, Timothy O., Onu, Ugochi Chika, Pereira-Kamath, Nikhil, Sakajiki, Aminu Muhammad, Salah, Mohamed, Vincent, Lloyd, Arruebo, Silvia, Bello, Aminu K., Caskey, Fergus J., Damster, Sandrine, Donner, Jo-Ann, Jha, Vivekanand, Johnson, David W., Levin, Adeera, Malik, Charu, Nangaku, Masaomi, Okpechi, Ikechi G. ... Zaidi, Deenaz (2024). Capacity for the management of kidney failure in the International Society of Nephrology Africa region: report from the 2023 ISN Global Kidney Atlas (ISN-GKHA). Kidney International Supplements, 13 (1), 12-28. doi: 10.1016/j.kisu.2024.01.002

  • Alparslan, Caner, Malyszko, Jolanta, Caskey, Fergus J., Aleckovic-Halilovic, Mirna, Hrušková, Zdenka, Arruebo, Silvia, Bello, Aminu K., Damster, Sandrine, Donner, Jo-Ann, Jha, Vivekanand, Johnson, David W., Levin, Adeera, Malik, Charu, Nangaku, Masaomi, Okpechi, Ikechi G., Tonelli, Marcello, Ye, Feng, Tesar, Vladimir, Racki, Sanjin, Amouzegar, Atefeh, Aydin, Zehra, Barbullushi, Myftar, Bek, Sibel, Bumblyte, Inga Arune, Cho, Yeoungjee, Davids, M. Razeen, Davison, Sara N., Deltas, Constantinos, Diongole, Hassane M. ... Zaidi, Deenaz (2024). Capacity for the management of kidney failure in the International Society of Nephrology Eastern and Central Europe region: report from the 2023 ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA). Kidney International Supplements, 13 (1), 29-42. doi: 10.1016/j.kisu.2024.01.006

  • Calice-Silva, Viviane, Neyra, Javier A., Ferreiro Fuentes, Alejandro, Singer Wallbach Massai, Krissia Kamile, Arruebo, Silvia, Bello, Aminu K., Caskey, Fergus J., Damster, Sandrine, Donner, Jo-Ann, Jha, Vivekanand, Johnson, David W., Levin, Adeera, Malik, Charu, Nangaku, Masaomi, Okpechi, Ikechi G., Tonelli, Marcello, Ye, Feng, Madero, Magdalena, Tzanno Martins, Carmen, Alvarez, Guillermo, Amouzegar, Atefeh, Arellano-Mendez, Denisse, Martinez, Gustavo Aroca, Ferrari, Roger Ayala, Bonano, Carlos, Velarde, Edwin Castillo, Chavez Iñiguez, Jonathan Samuel, Cho, Yeoungjee, Claure-Del Granado, Rolando ... Zaidi, Deenaz (2024). Capacity for the management of kidney failure in the International Society of Nephrology Latin America region: report from the 2023 ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA). Kidney International Supplements, 13 (1), 43-56. doi: 10.1016/j.kisu.2024.01.001

View all Publications

Supervision

View all Supervision

Publications

Book

  • National Stroke Foundation, Lalor, Erin, Boyden, Andrew, Cadilhac, Dominique, Colagiur, Stephen, Doust , Jennifer, Fraser, Dianne, Harris , Mark, Huang , Nancy, Johnson, David, Johnson, Greg, Lusis , Nadia, Mathew, Timothy, Muller, Noel, Sharma, Rashmi, Shaw, Jonathan, White , Ian and Wilson, Jinty (2012). Guidelines for the management of absolute cardiovascular disease risk. Australia: National Stroke Foundation.

  • Fahim, Magid A. and Johnson, David W. (2010). Hepatitis C infection in dialysis. New York , U.S.A.: Nova Science Publishers Inc.

  • Chadban, Steve, Harvie, Barb, Johnson, David Wayne, Joyner, Beres, Kidney Check Australia Taskforce, Kidney Health Australia, Ludlow, Marie, Mathew, Tim, Snelling, Paul, Usherwood, Tim, Weekes, Andrew and Wilmot, Sheena (2007). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) management in general practice. Melbourne, Vic., Australia: Kidney Health Australia.

Book Chapter

  • Jefferis, Julia Molly, Johnson, David Wayne and Badve, Sunil (2023). Hyperuricaemia and Chronic Kidney Disease. Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. (pp. 81-97) Cham: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-42045-0_7

  • Johnson, D. W. and Krediet, Raymond T. (2023). New Peritoneal Dialysis Solutions and Solutions on the Horizon. Nolph and Gokal’s Textbook of Peritoneal Dialysis: Fourth Edition. (pp. 393-415) Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-62087-5_11

  • Ambarsari, Cahyani Gita, Cho, Yeoungjee and Johnson, David W. (2022). Peritoneal dialysis solutions. Handbook of dialysis therapy. (pp. 222-229) edited by Allen R. Nissenson, Richard N. Fine, Rajnish Mehrotra and Joshua Zaritsky. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-79135-9.00022-7

  • Stallard, Belinda, Johnson, David W., Perl, Jeffrey and Davies, Simon J. (2021). The Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study. Applied Peritoneal Dialysis: Improving Patient Outcomes. (pp. 395-410) Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-70897-9_28

  • Mon, Saw Yu and Johnson, David W. (2018). Screening and management: overview. Handbook of chronic kidney disease management. (pp. 23-37) edited by John T. Daugirdas. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Wolters Kluwer Health.

  • Nataatmadja, Melissa, Cho, Yeoungjee, Lloyd, Jess and Johnson, David W. (2016). Aminoglycoside use in patients with chronic kidney disease. Aminoglycosides: pharmacology, clinical uses and health effects. (pp. 53-76) edited by Ruthie Alves. New York, NY, United States: Nova Science Publishers.

  • Kennard, Alice, Johnson, David W. and Hawley, Carmel M. (2016). Complications of peritoneal dialysis. Core concepts in dialysis and continuous therapies. (pp. 121-133) edited by Colm C. Magee, J. Kevin Tucker and Ajay K. Singh. Boston, MA, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4899-7657-4_10

  • Chan, Samuel, Fahim, Magid A., Macdonald, Graeme A. and Johnson, David W. (2016). Treatment of Hepatitis B in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Hepatitis B Treatment. (pp. 2-49) Telangana, India: Avid Science.

  • Abdul Razak, K., Mudge, D. W. and Johnson, D. W. (2014). Anaemia: prevalence, risk factors and management with a focus on chronic kidney disease. Anemia: prevalence, risk factors and management strategies. (pp. 123-146) Hauppauge, NY United States: Nova Science Publishers.

  • O'Shea, Stacey, Badve, Sunil V. and Johnson, David W. (2014). Erythropoiesis stimulating agent resistance. Advances in drug resistance research. (pp. 120-135) edited by Christudas Morais. New York, NY, United States: Nova Science Publishers.

  • Zirapury, Tasnim, van Eps, Carolyn, Hawley, Carmel M., Badve, Sunil V. and Johnson, David W. (2013). An overview of erythropoietin therapy. Erythropoietin: human production, potential uses and adverse effects. (pp. 31-53) New York, NY, United States: Nova Science Publishers.

  • Badve, Sunil V., Hawley, Carmel M. and Johnson, David W. (2012). How do Clinical Outcomes of Automated Peritoneal Dialysis Compare with those of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis?. Issues in Dialysis. (pp. xx-xx) edited by Stephen Z. Fadem. New York, NY, U.S.A.: Nova Science Publishers.

  • Johnson, David W. (2011). Screening and management: Overview. Handbook of chronic kidney disease management. (pp. 32-43) edited by John T. Daugirdas. Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.: Wolters Kluwer.

  • Fahim, Magid A. and Johnson, David W. (2010). Hepatitis C in dialysis patients. Advances in Medicine and Biology. (pp. 111-134) edited by Leon V. Berhardt. New York , U. S. A.: Nova Science Publishers.

  • Johnson, David W. and Williams, John D. (2009). Impact of peritoneal dialysis solutions on outcomes. Evidence-based nephrology. (pp. 500-509) edited by Donald Molony and Jonathan Craig. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

  • Vesey, David A., Qi, Weier, Chen, Xingming, Pollock, Carol A. and Johnson, David W. (2009). Isolation and primary culture of human proximal tubule cells. Kidney Research: Experimental Protocols. (pp. 19-24) edited by John M. Walker, T. D. Hewitson and G. J. Becker. Clifton, NJ, U.S.A.: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-352-3_2

  • Mathew, T. and Johnson, D. W. (2009). Kidney disease. Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice. (pp. 46-47) edited by The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners ‘Red Book’ Taskforce. South Melbourne, Vic., Australia: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

  • Strippoli, Giovanni F. M., Wiggins, Kathryn J., Johnson, David W., Navaneethan, Sankar, Cancarini, Giovanni and Craig, Jonathan C. (2009). Prevention and treatment of peritoneal dialysis-related infections. Evidence-based nephrology. (pp. 509-535) edited by Donald Molony and Jonathan Craig. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

  • Johnson, David W. and Mathew, Timothy (2008). How to treat proteinuria. How to treat: Australia's leading series on primary care treatment. Yearbook, 2008.. (pp. xx-xx) edited by Gavathas. Chatswood, N.S.W., Australia: Reed Business Information.

  • Johnson, David, Excell, Leonie, Livingston, Brian, Bannister, Kym and McDonald, Stephen (2008). Peritoneal Dialysis. Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry: The 31st Report 2008. (pp. 6-1-6-20) edited by Stephen McDonald, Leonie Excell and Brian Livingston. Adelaide, South Australia: ANZDATA Registry.

  • Miles, R. and Johnson, D. W. (2008). Use of honey to prevent infections associated with medical devices. Honey: A modern wound management product. (pp. 91-105) edited by Rose Cooper, Peter Molan and Richard White. Aberdeen, United Kingdom: Wounds UK Publishing.

  • Johnson, David W. (2007). Hypokalaemia and Metabolic Alkalosis. Clinical Cases in Kidney Disease. (pp. 1-1) edited by D.C.H. Harris. North Ryde, NSW Australia: McGraw-Hill Australia.

  • Johnson, David, Chang, Sean, Excell, Leonie, Livingston, Brian, Bannister, Kym and McDonald, Stephen (2007). Peritoneal dialysis. Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry: The 30th report 2007. (pp. 6-2-6-18) edited by Stephen McDonald, Sean Chang and Leonie Excell. Adelaide, Australia: ANZDATA Registry.

  • Johnson, David, Chang, Sean, Excell, Leonie, Livingston, Brian, Bannister, Kym and McDonald, Stephen (2006). Peritoneal Dialysis. Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry: The 29th Report 2006. (pp. 88-102) edited by Stephen McDonald, Sean Chang and Leonie Excell. Adelaide, South Australia: ANZDATA Registry.

  • Johnson, David W. and Mathew, Timothy (2005). Kidney disease. Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice. (pp. xx-xx) edited by M. Harris, L. Bailey, C. Bridges-Webb, L. Furler, B. Joyner, J. Litt, J. Smith and Y. Zurynski. Melbourne, Vic.: Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners.

  • Johnson, David, Bannister, Kym, McDonald, Stephen, Excell, Leonie, Livingston, Brian and Shtangey, Victoria (2005). Peritoneal Dialysis. Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry: The 28th Report 2005. (pp. 84-97) edited by Stephen McDonald and Leonie Excell. Adelaide, South Australia: ANZDATA Registry.

  • Johnson, David (2005). Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Lymphoma. (pp. 279-290) edited by Australian Cancer Network Diagnosis and Management of Lymphoma Guidelines Working Party. Sydney: The Cancer Council Australia/Australian Cancer Network.

  • Wiggins, Kathryn J. and Johnson, David W. (2005). The Influence of Obesity on Outcomes in End-Stage Renal Failure. Body Mass Index and Health. (pp. 43-57) edited by Linda A. Ferrara. New York: Nova Science.

  • Excell, Leonie, Johnson, David and McDonald, Stephen (2004). Peritoneal Dialysis. Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry: The 27th Report 2004. (pp. 54-68) edited by Leonie Excell and Stephen McDonald. Adelaide, South Australia: ANZDATA Registry.

  • Johnson, David (2003). Peritoneal dialysis. Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry: The 26th report 2003. (pp. 46-59) edited by Stephen McDonald and Graeme Russ. Adelaide, South Australia: ANZDATA Registry.

  • McDonald, Stephen, Johnson, David and Collins, John (2002). The Effect of Body Mass Index on Peritoneal Dialysis Outcome. Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry: The 25th Report 2002. (pp. 114-117) edited by Stephen P. McDonald and Graeme R. Russ. Adelaide, South Australia.: ANZDATA Registry.

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

Completed Supervision