Investigating early changes in kidney cells in diabetic patients
Official title: The Single Cell Landscape of Early Human Diabetic Nephropathy
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11000338 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how diabetes affects the cells in the kidneys, hoping to find clues that could help prevent or treat kidney problems for people with diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $167,940 |
| NIH project number | 5K08DK126847-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11000338 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with diabetes and may be experiencing early signs of kidney disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have diabetes or those with advanced kidney disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the early cellular changes that occur in the kidneys of individuals with diabetes. By using advanced techniques like single nucleus RNA sequencing and ATAC sequencing, researchers will analyze kidney samples from both healthy individuals and those with diabetes to identify specific gene expression patterns and chromatin accessibility changes. The goal is to uncover how these changes contribute to diabetic kidney disease, which is a leading cause of kidney failure. The findings may lead to new insights into potential therapeutic targets for preventing or treating kidney damage in diabetic patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing or treating kidney disease in diabetic patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using similar sequencing techniques has shown promise in understanding various diseases, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights into diabetic kidney disease.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilson, Parker C. — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Wilson, Parker C.
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.