How the body's early immune response affects sudden kidney injury
Role of the innate immune system in acute kidney injury
This research looks at how early immune cells in the kidney affect sudden kidney damage and the healing that follows.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11353769 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying what immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages do after the kidney loses and then regains blood flow. They follow the timing and behavior of these cells, how they shift from promoting inflammation to supporting repair, and how neutrophils are cleared or leave the kidney. The team examines tissue, animal models, and human kidney samples to identify signals that control inflammation resolution. Their goal is to find biological steps that could be targeted to improve recovery after acute kidney injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who have recently experienced acute kidney injury due to low blood flow, surgery, sepsis, or similar events, or those able to donate blood or kidney tissue samples for research.
Not a fit: People with stable chronic kidney disease unrelated to recent ischemic injury, or those who cannot provide samples or travel to the study site, are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that limit kidney damage and speed recovery after sudden injuries like ischemia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and human-tissue studies indicate immune cells influence injury and repair in AKI, but the detailed mechanisms and effective treatments remain largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harris, Raymond C. — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Harris, Raymond C.
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.