CKDu in Central American agricultural communities
Official title: CKDu in Salvadoran and Nicaraguan Agricultural Communities
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11522047 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide effort to understand why chronic kidney disease is killing many working-age people in El Salvador and Nicaragua, especially farm workers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $157,510 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK130057-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11522047 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Farm workers and other adults in Central American communities at risk of CKDu.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without CKDu risk factors or not participating in field studies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This NIH-funded project brings researchers together to study chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology in Central America. It will coordinate fieldwork, biological sampling, environmental assessment, and data analysis to uncover causes and potential treatments or interventions. The team will use standardized methods across sites to identify risk factors and disease progression, with results aimed at informing public health actions. The work is led by Boston University Medical Campus and involves a broad consortium of scientists.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could identify modifiable risks and pave the way for prevention and targeted therapies for CKDu in affected communities.
How similar studies have gone: Similar CKDu research has advanced understanding in other regions, but CKDu etiology in Central America remains incompletely understood, making this approach novel but grounded in prior CKD research.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scammell, Madeleine — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Scammell, Madeleine
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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.