A urine test to monitor kidney health during hard-to-treat high blood pressure
Official title: Building a kidney monitoring panel to guide therapy in resistant hypertension
Funded at University of Toledo Health Sci Campus · NIH-11110488 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A urine-based kidney tubule health panel is being tested to help adults with resistant high blood pressure and kidney test changes stay on effective blood pressure medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Toledo Health Sci Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Toledo, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $659,917 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL175306-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11110488 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with resistant hypertension—blood pressure uncontrolled despite three or more antihypertensive drugs—or people with renal artery stenosis who experience creatinine changes during treatment.
✕Less likely to help
People without hypertension, those whose blood pressure is controlled on fewer than three medications, or patients with confirmed acute kidney injury needing immediate treatment may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would give urine samples while doctors adjust blood pressure medicines so researchers can measure specific kidney tubule biomarkers. The team will compare those urine biomarkers with changes in creatinine and blood pressure response over time. The goal is to tell when creatinine rises reflect true acute kidney injury versus harmless hemodynamic changes. If the panel works, it could help doctors avoid stopping medicines that protect the heart and kidneys.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this urine test could help clinicians distinguish true kidney injury from benign creatinine changes so patients can remain on effective blood pressure therapy that lowers cardiovascular risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have identified urine biomarkers of tubular injury, but applying a combined tubule health panel specifically to guide treatment in resistant hypertension is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Toledo Health Sci Campus
Toledo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gupta, Rajesh — University of Toledo Health Sci Campus
- Study coordinator: Gupta, Rajesh
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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.