William Oetting is currently a Professor in the Departments of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology in the College of Pharmacy and Genetics, Cell Biology and Development at in the MedicalSchool at the University of Minnesota. Professor Oetting's research focuses on the genetic analysis of common diseases. In particular, the effects of genetic variation on kidney allograft health and survival for kidney transplant recipients. As genetic variants associated with kidney function and/or disease are identified, they will become candidates for other diseases which include the kidney. He is also interested in identifying proteomic and metabolomics markers associated with kidney health after transplantation.

"I am pleased to have been involved with BMC Nephrology, first as an Associate Editor and now as Section Editor for the Genetics section. I have been impressed with the journal's high editorial standards, and rapidity of the peer review and publication process. Moreover, I strongly believe in the value of BMC Nephrology's open access policy, which makes new knowledge available to the global nephrology community, irrespective of institutional affiliation or financial means.

The genetics section of BMC Nephrology will provide a forum for investigators who are interested in genetic variation and their impact on kidney development, function, disease and response to therapy. Kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. The variability between individuals with kidney disease on overall health (e.g. glomerular diseases), or on kidney health (e.g. type 2 diabetes), shows why understanding the genetics of kidney disease is important. I am looking forward to the many contributions associated with the genetics of kidney health and disease that will be published in BMC Nephrology."