NIH-funded research Career grant

Investigating how certain cell signaling affects kidney disease progression

Official title: The role of maladaptive VEGFR2 signaling in renal stroma for chronic kidney disease

Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11097352 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how sudden kidney damage can lead to long-term kidney problems, and it aims to find out how certain signals between kidney cells can help us understand this better, which could eventually lead to new ways to prevent chronic kidney disease for people who have had acute kidney injury.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project startAugust 24, 2023
Project endMay 31, 2028
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$119,857
NIH project number5K01DK133635-03
Project IDNIH-11097352 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced acute kidney injury and are at risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

Less likely to help

Patients with chronic kidney disease not related to acute kidney injury may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how acute kidney injury (AKI) can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) by examining the role of specific cell signaling pathways. The study will explore the interactions between different types of kidney cells, particularly how the signaling from vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) influences inflammation and kidney damage. By using advanced techniques like RNA sequencing, researchers aim to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in this process, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies for preventing CKD in patients who have experienced AKI.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that prevent the progression from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease, improving patient outcomes.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that targeting VEGFR2 can effectively block the progression of chronic kidney disease, indicating a promising avenue for further exploration.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Chiba, Takuto Greco — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
  • Study coordinator: Chiba, Takuto Greco

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.