NIH-funded research U01 cooperative agreement

Illuminating human kidney injury with advanced tissue imaging

Official title: Spatial Elucidation of Human Acute Kidney Injury and Chronic Kidney Disease using Imaging Mass Cytometry

Funded at Yale University · NIH-11378497 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This grant helps researchers map kidney injury in people by using a powerful imaging technique on kidney biopsy tissue to reveal cellular details that could guide better treatments.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionYale University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New Haven, United States)
Project startSeptember 15, 2022
Project endJune 30, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$306,691
NIH project number5U01DK133768-05
Project IDNIH-11378497 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Patients with acute kidney injury who are willing to provide kidney biopsy tissue for research.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not have AKI or who are unable to provide biopsy samples may not directly benefit.

What this research studies

The project uses Imaging Mass Cytometry to create a detailed cellular map from human kidney biopsies of patients with acute kidney injury and links this data with other molecular information. By studying the cells, their states, and repair pathways in human tissue, researchers hope to uncover why AKI progresses and how CKD develops after injury. The effort builds on the Kidney Precision Medicine Project and integrates multiple data types to build a comprehensive view of human kidney disease. Participants contribute kidney tissue samples to advance science that may lead to targeted therapies in the future.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more precise diagnoses and new treatment strategies for AKI and CKD in patients.

How similar studies have gone: Previous collaborations have shown that tissue-based, multi-omics approaches can reveal actionable insights into kidney disease.

Where this research is happening

  • Yale University
    New Haven, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Kakade, Vijayakumar Raghurama Rao — Yale University
  • Study coordinator: Kakade, Vijayakumar Raghurama Rao

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • How free heme damages kidney cell mitochondria and drives sudden and chronic kidney injury

    This project looks at whether excess heme causes mitochondrial damage and aging-like changes in kidney cells that contribute to sudden (acute) and long-term (chronic) kidney injury in people at risk.

    NIH research Mayo Clinic Rochester · Rochester, United States · NIH-11320747

  • Sudden (acute) kidney injury in children with chronic kidney disease

    This project looks at what leads to sudden kidney injury in children who already have chronic kidney disease so doctors can better prevent and treat it.

    NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11319873

  • Mapping Kidney Damage in Acute and Chronic Kidney Disease

    This project uses advanced imaging to create detailed maps of kidney tissue from patients with acute and chronic kidney disease to better understand these conditions.

    NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11174488

  • Investigating kidney injury in children with chronic kidney disease

    This study is looking at how to help kids with chronic kidney disease avoid sudden kidney problems and stay healthy by finding out what factors can be changed and how these issues affect their kidneys over time.

    NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11045032

  • Investigating how heme affects kidney health in older adults

    This study is looking at how certain old cells in the kidneys can cause problems in older adults with kidney issues, and it’s exploring whether a substance called heme might be making things worse; the goal is to find new ways to help improve kidney health in people aged 65 and older.

    NIH research Mayo Clinic Rochester · Rochester, United States · NIH-11014982

  • Understanding kidney injury and disease using advanced imaging techniques

    This study is looking at how kidney injuries and diseases affect your kidneys by examining tiny samples from patients who choose to join, using a special imaging technique to create detailed maps of kidney cells, which will help us better understand these conditions and find better treatments for everyone.

    NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-10892126

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.