How NDRG proteins help cells cope with low oxygen
Official title: NDRGs as mediators of hypoxia adaptation
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore County · NIH-11371409 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether NDRG proteins protect cells from damage when oxygen levels fall, which could matter for people with stroke, acute kidney injury, or sickle cell crises.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore County NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $367,114 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM154212-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371409 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People affected by oxygen-related injuries—for example recent stroke victims, patients recovering from acute kidney injury, or individuals with sickle cell crises—would be the kinds of patients who might benefit from future trials based on this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose conditions do not involve oxygen fluctuations or hypoxic injury are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team studies a group of proteins called NDRGs to learn how cells survive when oxygen is low and when oxygen returns. They will use lab models—cells and animals—to mimic low-oxygen and re-oxygenation events, measure cell energy and harmful oxygen molecules, and change NDRG levels to see the effects. Findings will be compared to known features of human conditions like acute kidney injury and stroke to identify pathways that might be targeted. The overall aim is to find biological switches that could one day be turned into treatments to protect organs from oxygen-related damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to protect tissues and reduce damage after low-oxygen events such as stroke or acute kidney injury.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies indicate NDRG proteins can help cells survive low-oxygen in cell and animal models, but translating these findings into human therapies remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brewster, Rachel Melissa — University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Study coordinator: Brewster, Rachel Melissa
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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.