How ventilators can harm the kidneys
Physiologic and Molecular Mechanisms of Ventilator Induced Kidney Injury
This project looks at how breathing machines may cause sudden kidney problems in people on ventilators so doctors can find ways to prevent them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA San Diego Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11206893 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people in intensive care need mechanical ventilators, which can save lives but also raise the risk of sudden kidney injury. The team will use laboratory and pre-clinical models to track how ventilation changes kidney filtration and salt handling across different parts of the kidney. They will study the physical changes in glomeruli and the tubular processes that lead to reduced filtration and increased sodium retention. The aim is to identify specific molecular and physiologic pathways that could be modified to prevent ventilator-associated acute kidney injury and guide future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who are mechanically ventilated in the ICU—especially those with sepsis or shock who are at high risk for acute kidney injury—would be the most relevant group for this work.
Not a fit: People not on mechanical ventilation or those with chronic, non–critical-illness kidney disease may not receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent kidney injury in ventilated patients and lower the high death rate seen with ventilator-associated AKI.
How similar studies have performed: Animal and lab studies have shown that ventilation can rapidly reduce kidney filtration and increase sodium retention, but targeted preventive treatments remain unproven in humans.
Where this research is happening
San Diego, United States
- VA San Diego Healthcare System — San Diego, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hepokoski, Mark Lawrence — VA San Diego Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Hepokoski, Mark Lawrence
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.