How kidney filter cells and nearby tubule cells communicate in diabetic kidney disease
Podocyte-Proximal Tubule Interactions in Diabetic Kidney Disease
This project looks at whether signals from podocytes can protect proximal tubule cells and slow kidney damage in people with diabetic kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11302661 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will hear about work that uses mice engineered to express a human podocyte gene (KLF6) to see how podocytes influence nearby proximal tubule cells during diabetes. Researchers use single-nucleus RNA sequencing to map cell-to-cell signals and examine factors released by podocytes (the podocyte secretome) in high-glucose lab models. They test how changing CaMK1D signaling, both genetically and with drugs, alters mitochondrial injury and tubule cell health. The goal is to identify secreted signals or druggable pathways that could protect tubules and slow disease progression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with diabetic kidney disease—for example people with diabetes who have proteinuria or reduced kidney function—would be the patient group most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without diabetic kidney disease or those already on dialysis are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify signals or targets that lead to new treatments to protect kidney tubules and slow progression to end-stage kidney disease in people with diabetic kidney disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked podocyte health to proximal tubule injury and shown some protective pathways in preclinical models, but the specific role of podocyte KLF6 and CaMK1D signaling is a newer, less-tested direction.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mallipattu, Sandeep K — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Mallipattu, Sandeep K
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.