Blocking a protein (NPM1) to prevent sudden kidney damage after low blood flow
Official title: Nucleophosmin Centered Diagnostics and Treatment of Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury
Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-11317156 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops a peptide drug to block a protein called NPM1 and try to protect people at high risk for sudden kidney damage during heart surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2019 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $555,038 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK118267-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11317156 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people at high risk for ischemic acute kidney injury, for example patients undergoing high-risk cardiac surgery with expected periods of low kidney blood flow.
✕Less likely to help
People whose kidney problems are caused by long-term chronic disease, toxins, infections, or non-ischemic causes are less likely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
The team is studying a protein called NPM1 that helps trigger cell death in kidneys when blood flow is reduced. They will map the part of NPM1 that binds to another protein, Bax, using protein-structure tools like x-ray crystallography and chemical cross-linking. Chemists will design and optimize short peptide drugs to stop the NPM1:Bax interaction, and the best candidates will be tested in kidney cells and animal models. The long-term aim is to pick a therapy that could prevent ischemic acute kidney injury in patients having high-risk cardiac surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new drug that prevents sudden kidney failure after episodes of low blood flow, such as during some heart surgeries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked NPM1 to ischemic kidney damage and shown effects across species, but using optimized peptides to block NPM1:Bax is a new and early-stage approach not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
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Boston Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Borkan, Steven C. — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Borkan, Steven C.
Related research
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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.