Dapagliflozin to protect kidney transplant function and heart health
Efficacy and Mechanisms of Dapagliflozin in Promoting Kidney Function and Cardiovascular Health in Kidney Transplant Recipients
This research will test whether dapagliflozin helps adults with a kidney transplant—especially those with type 2 diabetes—keep their new kidney working and reduce heart-related problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238529 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you may take dapagliflozin (a diabetes medicine now used to protect kidneys) along with your regular transplant care while the team watches your health. The study will collect blood and urine tests, measure kidney oxygenation with MRI, and may use small kidney biopsy samples that researchers analyze with single-cell RNA sequencing to see how kidney cells respond. Doctors will follow kidney function, albumin levels, and heart-related events over time to link clinical outcomes with molecular changes. The approach combines clinical monitoring and detailed tissue analysis to learn both whether the drug helps and how it works in transplant patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older who have received a kidney transplant—particularly those with type 2 diabetes or signs of kidney dysfunction such as albuminuria—are the intended candidates.
Not a fit: People who are very early after transplant with unstable graft function, have contraindications to SGLT2 inhibitors (for example type 1 diabetes or recurrent severe genital infections), or have very low kidney filtration may not be eligible or likely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help kidney transplant recipients preserve graft function longer and lower their risk of cardiovascular disease.
How similar studies have performed: Large trials in people with chronic kidney disease have shown SGLT2 inhibitors improve kidney and heart outcomes, but evidence specifically in kidney transplant recipients is limited and mainly preliminary.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kendrick, Jessica B — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Kendrick, Jessica B
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.