Investigating how fetal exposures affect kidney development using organoids
Official title: Use of kidney organoids to investigate developmental programs and the effects of fetal exposures
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10988821 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain conditions during pregnancy, like diabetes, can affect how a child's kidneys develop, using tiny lab-grown models to better understand the long-term health impacts on kids.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $421,067 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD113970-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10988821 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old who may have been exposed to adverse conditions in utero, such as maternal diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have any congenital kidney anomalies or have not been exposed to relevant in utero conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the impact of in utero exposures, such as pregestational diabetes, on kidney development in children. By utilizing kidney organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), the study aims to understand how these exposures disrupt normal cellular programs during critical developmental stages. The organoids provide a human-like model to investigate the effects of these exposures on nephron progenitors and podocytes, which are essential for kidney function. This approach seeks to fill the knowledge gap regarding congenital kidney anomalies and their long-term effects on children's health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating congenital kidney anomalies in children.
How similar studies have gone: While kidney organoids have been used in various studies, this specific approach focusing on in utero exposures and developmental programs is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'brien, Lori L — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: O'brien, Lori L
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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.