HIV proteins and immune factors that harm the kidneys
Official title: Viral-immune interaction in glomerular kidney disease
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11401691 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how parts of the HIV virus and a blood protein called suPAR may cause kidney damage in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $613,186 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK138055-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401691 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV who have protein in the urine or reduced kidney function, or who can provide blood or clinically indicated kidney biopsy samples, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or those whose kidney disease is known to be caused by a different condition may not directly benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers use a new mouse model driven by the HIV envelope protein gp120 alongside blood and kidney samples from people with virus-associated glomerular disease to understand disease steps. They focus on how suPAR interacts with immune cells and integrin receptors to trigger kidney injury. The team will test small-molecule drugs and antibodies in mice and in human tissue samples to see if blocking this interaction reduces damage. Human participants may be asked to provide blood and, when clinically needed, kidney biopsy samples for analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to treatments that prevent or reduce HIV-associated kidney damage by blocking the harmful interaction between viral proteins, suPAR, and integrins.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked high suPAR levels to kidney decline and animal work supports gp120's role, but combining these findings into targeted therapies is new and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wei, David Changli — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Wei, David Changli
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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.