Investigating how low potassium levels cause kidney injury
Official title: Establishing new model systems to study low potassium induced kidney injury
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11013316 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how not getting enough potassium in your diet can harm your kidneys and lead to high blood pressure, and it aims to find out more about how this happens so we can help people with kidney problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | January 25, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $104,936 |
| NIH project number | 5R03DK138215-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11013316 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a history of dietary potassium deficiency or related kidney issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with normal potassium levels and no kidney-related health concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the effects of dietary potassium deficiency on kidney health. By developing new cellular models, the study aims to explore how low potassium levels lead to kidney injury, hypertension, and other related health issues. The researchers will examine the mechanisms involved, including inflammation and changes in kidney function, to better understand the connection between potassium levels and kidney damage. This work could provide insights into potential treatments for patients suffering from kidney-related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing and treating kidney injury related to low potassium levels.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of this research is novel, previous studies have indicated that understanding potassium's role in kidney health is crucial and has shown promising results.
Where this research is happening
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University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boyd-Shiwarski, Cary Ragan — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Boyd-Shiwarski, Cary Ragan
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.