How low vitamin D after preterm birth may harm kidney development
Official title: Investigating the effect of dysregulated vitamin D metabolism on kidney development following preterm birth
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11326227 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores whether low vitamin D around the time of preterm birth harms developing kidneys and the podocyte cells that protect kidney filtering.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $684,028 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK136989-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326227 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People born preterm, parents of preterm infants, or young adults with a history of prematurity are the population most directly affected by this research.
✕Less likely to help
Full-term infants or people whose kidney disease is unrelated to prematurity may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
As a parent or patient, you should know researchers are studying how changes in vitamin D metabolism after preterm birth might reduce the active form of vitamin D in the newborn kidney. Using a mouse model of preterm birth they measure kidney gene expression, track podocyte number and Nphs1 levels, and examine local vitamin D pathway changes. The team connects these findings to the higher risk of proteinuria and chronic kidney disease seen after prematurity. Their approach aims to reveal whether correcting vitamin D signaling could protect developing kidney cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, this work could point to vitamin D strategies around preterm birth that protect podocytes and reduce long-term risk of chronic kidney disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies show vitamin D can protect podocytes in glomerular disease, but applying this mechanism to preterm-related kidney development is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Charlton, Jennifer R — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Charlton, Jennifer R
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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.