A potential drug to protect kidneys after injury by boosting mitochondrial cleanup
Official title: IND-enabling studies of a USP30 inhibitor for acute kidney injury
Funded at Vincere Biosciences, INC. · NIH-11256218 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new drug candidate that blocks USP30 could protect the kidneys after injury, potentially preventing progression to long‑term kidney disease for patients recovering from events like heart surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vincere Biosciences, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 28, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,297,479 |
| NIH project number | 1R44DK143820-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11256218 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for or who have experienced acute kidney injury, including CSA‑AKI, who could participate in future clinical testing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without AKI or those unlikely to benefit from mitochondria-targeted therapies may not experience a direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops USP30 inhibitors to enhance mitophagy, the process that clears damaged mitochondria in kidney cells after injury. The researchers have created and tested many small molecules, choosing promising ones to move toward IND enabling studies. The work includes evaluating potency, how the drugs behave in the body, and safety in preclinical models of acute kidney injury. If successful, this could lead to a first‑in‑human therapy aimed at reducing kidney damage after events such as cardiac surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the program succeeds, it could lead to a therapy that lowers the risk of lasting kidney damage after AKI and helps patients recover more fully.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in various models suggest that boosting mitophagy can protect kidney cells from injury, supporting potential benefit for USP30 inhibitors.
Where this research is happening
-
Vincere Biosciences, INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Behrouz, Bahareh — Vincere Biosciences, INC.
- Study coordinator: Behrouz, Bahareh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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SEAK Alliance: Improving Care for AKI Patients in the Southeast
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This grant funds research to understand why some people develop delirium after heart surgery when they also have acute kidney injury.
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Neuroimmune control of kidney injury using noninvasive ultrasound
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Aims to block how polymyxin damages the kidney so it can be used more safely to treat hard-to-kill infections.
-
Using smart computer predictions to prevent kidney injury after heart surgery
A machine-learning approach uses routinely collected hospital data to predict who might develop acute kidney injury after heart surgery, so clinicians can act early.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.