Estrogen-based approaches to protect kidneys from transplant and low-blood-flow injury
Estrogen and Serms as Therapy for Renal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
This research looks at whether estrogen-related drugs can help protect kidneys from damage after transplant, cardiac arrest, or major surgery.
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 ID | NIH-11190928 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using mouse models to study how estrogen and related drugs affect kidney damage that happens when blood flow is lost and then restored (ischemia-reperfusion injury). They are focusing on two estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ, to find which cells and tissues mediate helpful or harmful effects. The team will test how modifying these receptors changes short-term kidney function and long-term scarring after warm or cold injury. The goal is to find approaches that could be turned into therapies to preserve kidney health after transplant or other events that cause low blood flow.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future clinical testing would be people undergoing kidney transplantation or those at high risk of kidney ischemia from cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary bypass, major surgery, or trauma.
Not a fit: People without kidney ischemia risk (or those who cannot take estrogen/SERM therapies for medical reasons) are unlikely to benefit from this line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that reduce kidney injury and improve outcomes after transplant or other ischemic events.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies by this group and others have shown that estrogen can preserve kidney function and reduce fibrosis in mice, but clinical testing in people has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levine, Matthew Howard — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Levine, Matthew Howard
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.