Investigating how heat stress affects kidney health and the role of niacinamide in prevention.
Official title: Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) Metabolism During Observational and Experimental Heat Stress and the Effect of Niacinamide Among Individuals at Risk for Mesoamerican Nephropathy
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11160757 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how working in the heat affects kidney health, especially for sugarcane workers who might be at risk for kidney problems, and it will also test if a vitamin called niacinamide can help protect their kidneys from damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 2, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $190,700 |
| NIH project number | 5K23DK138320-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160757 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are agricultural workers, particularly sugarcane cutters, who are at risk for Mesoamerican Nephropathy due to heat exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not involved in agricultural work or those not exposed to significant heat stress may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the impact of heat stress on kidney health, particularly in individuals at risk for Mesoamerican Nephropathy (MeN), a chronic kidney disease prevalent among agricultural workers in Central America. The study will observe urinary biomarkers and kidney injury in sugarcane cutters exposed to heat stress and will also explore how niacinamide, a compound that boosts NAD+ levels, may help prevent kidney damage. By examining these factors, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms linking heat stress to kidney injury and assess potential protective strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new preventive measures for kidney injury in vulnerable populations exposed to heat stress.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that interventions targeting NAD+ metabolism can mitigate kidney injury, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raines, Nathan — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Raines, Nathan
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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.