How kidney filter cells and nearby tubule cells communicate in diabetic kidney disease
Official title: Podocyte-Proximal Tubule Interactions in Diabetic Kidney Disease
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11302661 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | June 12, 2017 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $689,321 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK112984-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11302661 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetic kidney disease or those already on dialysis are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical-focused project.
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.
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 gone: 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
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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
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PFAS exposure and kidney disease risk in teens with type 2 diabetes
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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.