Alkali (bicarbonate) treatment to improve blood vessel and transplant kidney health
Effect of Alkali Therapy on Vascular and Graft Function in Kidney Transplant Recipients
This project gives alkali (bicarbonate) to people who have had a kidney transplant to see if their blood vessels and transplanted kidney work better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11091534 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would receive oral alkali therapy (bicarbonate) intended to correct acid retention common after kidney transplant. The team will measure how well your blood vessels dilate, how stiff your large arteries are, markers of inflammation and complement activation, and how the transplanted kidney is doing over time. Visits will include blood tests, vascular imaging or function tests, and regular clinical follow-up. The goal is to determine whether correcting low bicarbonate can improve vascular health and protect the graft.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have received a kidney transplant, especially those with low or low-normal serum bicarbonate or evidence of acid retention, would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a kidney transplant or those with medical conditions that make alkali unsafe (for example uncontrolled heart failure or strict sodium limits) are unlikely to benefit from this treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve vascular function and lower the risk of graft loss and cardiovascular events for kidney transplant recipients.
How similar studies have performed: Small trials in people with chronic kidney disease (not specifically transplants) have shown slower kidney decline with alkali, but its effects in transplant recipients are less well studied.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kendrick, Jessica B — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Kendrick, Jessica B
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 below.