AKI and AKD and the immune system after infection
Official title: AKI and AKD Predispose to a Dysregulated Immune Response to Infection
Funded at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System · NIH-11188885 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how kidney injury affects the body’s defense against infections and explores new ways to boost or fine-tune the immune response in affected patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 1I01BX006356-01A2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11188885 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with acute kidney injury or acute kidney disease who are at risk for infections and may benefit from therapies targeting the immune response.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without AKI/AKD or those not at risk of infections may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
If you or someone you know has acute kidney injury or acute kidney disease, this research is about understanding why infections are so dangerous in this condition. The team uses animal models of AKI and AKD that mimic human illness and tests both ways to influence the immune system—blocking some immune signals and boosting others. They will use advanced techniques to monitor kidney function non‑invasively and to analyze immune cells in detail, including transferring immune cells from donors into the models to see how these changes affect infection risk. The goal is to build a translational path so that future patient care could prevent or lessen infections after kidney injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new treatments that reduce infection risk and improve outcomes for people with AKI/AKD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that immune manipulation can influence infection outcomes in kidney injury models, with this project proposing a more translational approach.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Montford, John Ross — VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Montford, John Ross
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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.