Causes of unexplained chronic kidney disease in Uddanam, India
India - Factors of CKDu in Uddanam Study (India-FOCUS)
This project compares adults with and without unexplained chronic kidney disease in Uddanam, India by collecting health information, family history, and biological samples to look for environmental and familial causes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11403182 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to join if you live in the Uddanam region and either have CKDu or match a person who does. Participants will complete detailed medical and exposure questionnaires, family pedigree charts, and a clinical exam, and will give blood, urine, hair, and nail samples. The study plans to enroll about 400 people with CKDu and 800 matched controls, including at least 100 families with multiple affected relatives, with repeat visits every nine months. Lab tests will measure kidney function, injury markers, and environmental exposure markers to search for patterns linked to illness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (21+) living in the Uddanam region who either have CKDu or are age-, sex-, location-, and occupation-matched controls, including first-degree relatives of affected people.
Not a fit: People whose kidney disease has a known cause (for example diabetes or hypertension) or who live outside the Uddanam area are unlikely to directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could identify causes or exposures linked to CKDu and point to ways to prevent illness or detect it earlier in affected communities.
How similar studies have performed: Previous case-control and environmental studies in regions with CKDu (for example Central America and Sri Lanka) have suggested links to heat stress, agrochemicals, and heavy metals but results are inconsistent, so this larger, family-focused effort is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mohan, Sumit — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Mohan, Sumit
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.