How type 1 diabetes changes the kidneys today
Official title: Pathogenesis of kidney disease in type 1 diabetes: a modern kidney biopsy cohort
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11324949 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses modern kidney biopsies and advanced molecular tests to look for energy and oxygen problems in the kidneys of adults with type 1 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | May 23, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $599,983 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK132399-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324949 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with type 1 diabetes of roughly 5–30 years duration who are willing to undergo a research kidney biopsy and related metabolic testing are the best fit.
✕Less likely to help
People without type 1 diabetes, children, or anyone unwilling or unable to have a kidney biopsy are unlikely to be eligible or benefit directly from participation.
What this research studies
Researchers will build a group of adults with type 1 diabetes who have had diabetes for about 5–30 years and collect kidney biopsy samples over time. They will combine these new samples with existing biopsy and donor tissue and perform detailed molecular tests, including single-cell RNA sequencing, plus tissue imaging and metabolic measurements. The team will compare people with diabetes to healthy donor samples to find specific cell types and pathways showing signs of low oxygen or disrupted energy use. Findings aim to map how diabetic kidney disease develops in the era of modern glucose monitoring and insulin delivery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological targets for new treatments and help identify patients at higher risk of kidney decline earlier.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier kidney biopsy studies have improved understanding of diabetic kidney disease, but combining modern single-cell molecular tools with a contemporary type 1 diabetes cohort is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Boer, Ian H — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: De Boer, Ian H
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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.