Creating 3D models of kidney injury using human cells.
Official title: Modeling of acute kidney injury in organoids.
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11047118 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on creating better 3D models of kidneys using human cells to help understand and treat acute kidney injury (AKI), especially for veterans, so that we can find safer and more effective treatments for those affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 1I21BX006554-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11047118 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans who have been diagnosed with acute kidney injury or are at high risk for developing it.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have acute kidney injury or related kidney conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing advanced 3D kidney organoid models to better understand and treat acute kidney injury (AKI), particularly in veterans. By using human kidney cells instead of animal models, the study aims to create more accurate representations of kidney function and injury. This innovative approach allows for reduced drug usage and improved testing of potential therapies, which could lead to better treatment options for patients suffering from AKI. The research addresses the high rates of AKI in the veteran population and seeks to improve clinical outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for acute kidney injury, potentially reducing the risk of end-stage renal disease in patients.
How similar studies have gone: While traditional animal models have been used extensively, the use of human kidney organoids represents a novel approach that has not yet been widely tested in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Woodard, Lauren Elizabeth — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Woodard, Lauren Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
SEAK Alliance: Improving Care for AKI Patients in the Southeast
A national, patient-centered effort to improve post-hospital care for people who had acute kidney injury in the Southeast.
-
AKI-related delirium after heart surgery
This grant funds research to understand why some people develop delirium after heart surgery when they also have acute kidney injury.
-
Better ways to identify types of sudden kidney injury in U.S. Veterans
Researchers are looking for genetic and health patterns that define different types of sudden severe kidney injury in Veterans to help guide future care.
-
Neuroimmune control of kidney injury using noninvasive ultrasound
A new approach uses targeted ultrasound to gently stimulate nerves and immune signals to help the kidney recover after injury.
-
Structure-based approach to prevent kidney injury from polymyxin use
Aims to block how polymyxin damages the kidney so it can be used more safely to treat hard-to-kill infections.
-
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.