Factor H–related proteins and kidney disease
Role of the Factor H Related Proteins in Kidney Disease
This project looks at how certain blood proteins called Factor H–related proteins change immune activity in people with kidney disease.
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-11295431 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how Factor H and the related FHR proteins control the complement immune system and drive inflammation in the kidney. They will create and use animal models that lack specific FHRs and develop protein-specific antibodies to see how these changes affect kidney tissue and immune responses. The team will compare findings to what is known about human kidney diseases linked to complement activity and use laboratory tests on cells and tissues to pinpoint mechanisms. The goal is to identify specific FHR actions that could become targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autoimmune or complement-mediated kidney diseases—such as certain types of glomerulonephritis or complement-driven kidney disorders—would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose kidney problems are mainly due to non-immune causes (for example, purely metabolic or structural conditions) may not directly benefit from this line of work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets for treatments that reduce harmful immune-driven kidney inflammation and help preserve kidney function.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked FHR proteins to kidney disease but results are mixed, and this project uses new animal models and antibodies that have not been widely tested in vivo.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thurman, Joshua M — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Thurman, Joshua M
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.