Improving heart- and kidney-protective treatment for people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease
Official title: Closing the Cardio-Renal Preventive Treatment Gap Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease: An Implementation Science Approach
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11303260 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will help people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease get proven medicines that protect the heart and kidneys but are often missed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $236,314 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HL157721-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11303260 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, especially veterans receiving care in the VA system, are the ideal candidates to benefit from and participate in this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without type 2 diabetes or without chronic kidney disease, or those already receiving optimal cardio-renal preventive therapy, are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
The team will analyze VA medical records from over 1.5 million people with type 2 diabetes to identify patterns in who receives cardio-renal preventive medicines. They will hold focus groups with patients and healthcare providers to hear real-world barriers and reasons those medicines are under-prescribed. Combining these findings, the researchers will design and pilot implementation approaches to increase appropriate use of ACE inhibitors/ARBs, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors. Early work is mentored and exploratory, then moves to independent testing of practical solutions in clinical settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more people with type 2 diabetes and CKD could receive proven treatments that lower the risk of heart attacks and slow kidney decline.
How similar studies have gone: The medications targeted by this project have strong evidence for reducing cardiovascular and kidney risk, but implementation efforts to close prescription gaps are relatively new and still being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lamprea Montealegre, Julio Alejandro — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Lamprea Montealegre, Julio Alejandro
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving heart and kidney treatment for patients with diabetes
This study is looking into why people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease aren't getting the heart-protecting treatments they need, and it aims to find ways to make sure these important medications are prescribed more often.
-
Exploring new muscle chemistry in adults with Type 2 diabetes
A study will test a new imaging method to measure muscle metabolites in adults with Type 2 diabetes to better understand how the disease affects their muscles.
-
Save with Care: Help with costs to manage type 2 diabetes
A digital program helps adults with type 2 diabetes on high-deductible plans save money and get better access to care.
-
Predicting obesity-related diabetes and wound healing with math models
A math-based model is being built to better understand how obesity drives type 2 diabetes and slow wound healing in adults.
-
Rapid, multi-drug initiation for people with CKD and type 2 diabetes
A small study will try starting several key diabetes and kidney medicines at the same time in adults with CKD and type 2 diabetes to see if this fast plan is safe and helpful.
-
Personalized nutrition guided by continuous glucose monitors for type 2 diabetes
See whether using continuous glucose monitors to tailor meals helps adults with type 2 diabetes keep blood sugar under better control.
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.