How free heme damages kidney cell mitochondria and drives sudden and chronic kidney injury
Official title: Heme-mediated Mitochondrial Injury, Senescence, Acute Kidney Injury and Chronic Kidney Disease
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11320747 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether excess heme causes mitochondrial damage and aging-like changes in kidney cells that contribute to sudden (acute) and long-term (chronic) kidney injury in people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $599,173 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133401-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11320747 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people who have had or are at high risk for acute kidney injury, for example after major bleeding, sepsis, crush injury, or other events that release heme proteins.
✕Less likely to help
People whose kidney problems are unrelated to heme-mediated damage or who need immediate dialysis support may not gain direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will study how heme released during injury harms mitochondria in kidney cells and triggers a persistent, inflammatory 'senescent' state. They will use cell and animal models to measure mitochondrial function, heme levels, and senescence markers such as p16 and p21, and examine the roles of transcription factors ETS1 and ATF4. The team will test whether these heme-driven changes promote acute kidney injury and later chronic decline, and whether removing senescent cells or blocking heme effects can reduce damage. Findings could point to new ways to protect kidneys after events like severe bleeding, sepsis, or muscle breakdown.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that prevent or lessen acute and chronic kidney damage caused by heme-related injury.
How similar studies have gone: Related work shows mitochondrial injury and cellular senescence contribute to kidney damage and early clinical trials of senolytic drugs are underway, but targeting heme-driven senescence is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nath, Karl a. — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Nath, Karl a.
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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.