Imaging to track kidney changes in children with ARPKD

Imaging Assessments of ARPKD Kidney Disease Progression

NIH-funded research Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11310770

Using advanced imaging to find better ways to follow kidney changes over time in children and young adults with ARPKD.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cleveland, United States)
Project IDNIH-11310770 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If your child has ARPKD, this project aims to use detailed imaging (for example MRI) to spot small cysts and scarring earlier than routine blood tests can. The team will take imaging measurements over time to identify signals that reliably change as the disease progresses. These imaging markers would be compared to standard kidney function tests to find measures sensitive enough for shorter clinical trials. The work builds on imaging methods used in adult PKD but adapts and tests them specifically for children with ARPKD.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Children and adolescents with a confirmed diagnosis of ARPKD who can travel to the research site and undergo imaging procedures would be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without ARPKD or those already at end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis or transplant are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this imaging-focused project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, these imaging measures could detect worsening disease earlier and help guide treatments and faster clinical trials for ARPKD.

How similar studies have performed: MRI measures like total kidney volume have succeeded in adult ADPKD, but imaging markers for ARPKD are less tested so this application is relatively novel for this condition.

Where this research is happening

Cleveland, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Conditions Animal Disease ModelsAutosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.