Creating new kidney tissues using rhythmic cell induction
Official title: Rhythmic pace-making of nephron induction for renal replacement tissues
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10938882 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how to create new kidney tissues from special cells to help people with kidney failure by making enough healthy nephrons, which are the tiny parts of the kidney that filter blood, and to learn more about what causes chronic kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $700,619 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK140070-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10938882 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from chronic kidney failure or those who are at risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute kidney injury or those whose kidney function can be restored through other means may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new kidney tissues by controlling the rhythmic induction of nephrons, which are the functional units of the kidney. Using human induced pluripotent stem cells, the team aims to replicate the diverse cell types found in early fetal kidneys. The goal is to overcome current limitations in generating sufficient kidney tissue for effective transplantation and to better understand the processes that lead to chronic kidney disease. By achieving a controlled and scalable production of nephrons, this research could pave the way for innovative treatments for kidney failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of functional kidney tissues that can replace damaged kidneys in patients with chronic kidney disease.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using stem cells to create kidney tissues is being explored, this specific method of rhythmic nephron induction is novel and has not been extensively tested in previous studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hughes, Alex — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Hughes, Alex
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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.