How the kidney channel claudin‑2 affects calcium balance and calcium kidney stones
Official title: Role of Claudin-2 in Calcium Homeostasis and Kidney Stone Disease
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-11296431 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a kidney channel called claudin‑2 helps keep calcium from building up and forming calcium kidney stones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2019 |
| Project end | January 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $626,009 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DK115727-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11296431 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with recurrent calcium kidney stones or idiopathic hypercalciuria would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical work.
✕Less likely to help
People whose stones are not calcium-based (for example uric acid, cystine, or infection-related stones) are unlikely to benefit from findings focused on calcium handling.
What this research studies
Researchers want to understand why calcium collects in the kidney papilla and forms Randall's plaques that can lead to calcium stones. They will use mouse models lacking claudin‑2, measurements of calcium transport along the nephron, and imaging and tissue analysis to map where calcium accumulates in the kidney medulla. The team will also test whether reducing calcium reabsorption in the loop of Henle decreases interstitial calcium and prevents plaque formation. Results will be compared with human samples and clinical data to link the lab findings to people with calcium kidney stones.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new targets to prevent papillary calcifications and reduce recurrent calcium kidney stones.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies deleting claudin‑2 produced high urine calcium and papillary calcifications, but clinical therapies targeting Randall's plaques remain novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Alan S — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Yu, Alan S
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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.