A smart home test for detecting kidney disease flares in autoimmune patients
Official title: A biomarker panel based smart mini-array system for the homecare of autoimmune kidney diseases
Funded at University of Houston · NIH-10555290 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a simple at-home test that helps people with lupus nephritis check their kidney health using urine samples, so they can get quick results on their smartphones and make faster decisions about their treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2019 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $435,782 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG062987-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10555290 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, particularly those experiencing or at risk for lupus nephritis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus or those not experiencing kidney-related complications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a user-friendly, at-home test to detect flares of lupus nephritis, a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. The project aims to create a mini-array system that can analyze urine samples for specific biomarkers associated with kidney disease. Patients will be able to use a smartphone-based system to receive timely results, which can lead to quicker treatment decisions. This innovative approach seeks to empower patients with chronic conditions to manage their health more effectively from home.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enable patients to detect kidney disease flares earlier, leading to improved treatment outcomes and reduced mortality.
How similar studies have gone: Similar research has shown promise in developing point-of-care testing for other chronic diseases, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Tianfu — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Wu, Tianfu
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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.