GSK3beta’s role in diabetic kidney disease and protecting kidney cells
Official title: Role of GSK3beta in diabetic kidney disease
Funded at University of Toledo Health Sci Campus · NIH-11361697 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how a molecule called GSK3beta affects kidney damage in people with diabetes and whether targeting it can protect kidney cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Toledo Health Sci Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Toledo, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $339,900 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133203-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361697 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with diabetic kidney disease who have evidence of kidney dysfunction and podocyte-related injury.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diabetic kidney involvement or those not eligible for related intervention studies may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Diabetic kidney disease is a major cause of kidney failure, and this project focuses on the role of GSK3beta in podocytes, the kidney cells that filter blood. The research aims to understand how GSK3beta activity contributes to damage, senescence, and oxidative stress in the glomeruli, and to test whether modulating GSK3beta can prevent injury. Using human-relevant models and animal studies, the team will explore how GSK3beta interacts with insulin signaling and antioxidant defenses to influence disease progression. The ultimate goal is to identify therapeutic strategies that could preserve kidney function in people with diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new treatments that slow or prevent kidney failure in people with diabetes by protecting podocytes and reducing kidney damage.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that modulating GSK3beta can impact podocyte health and injury responses, supporting this approach as promising but still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Toledo Health Sci Campus
Toledo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gong, Rujun — University of Toledo Health Sci Campus
- Study coordinator: Gong, Rujun
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
siRNA nanoparticle treatment to stop diabetic kidney damage
A new nanoparticle-delivered gene-silencing treatment aims to lower kidney inflammation in people with diabetes to help protect their kidneys.
-
LRG1’s role in diabetic kidney disease and kidney fibrosis
A study examines how a specific protein, LRG1, influences kidney disease related to diabetes and its scarring, with the aim of finding targeted ways to slow or prevent damage.
-
Genetic discovery for diabetic kidney disease in adults
A scientist team is studying the genes that influence diabetic kidney disease in adults to better understand why some people develop it.
-
Non-canonical NF-kB and inflammation in diabetic kidney disease
A study to understand how a specific inflammatory pathway worsens kidney disease in adults with type 2 diabetes and how it might be treated.
-
Epidermal microfluidic screen to detect diabetic kidney disease
A new skin-based microfluidic test platform may help identify kidney complications in people with diabetes using real-time biomarkers from sweat and glucose data.
-
PFAS exposure and kidney disease risk in teens with type 2 diabetes
Aging and kidney health study in youths with type 2 diabetes to see how a common chemical (PFAS) affects kidney risk and how to prevent or treat it.
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.