Investigating kidney injury in cancer patients using immune checkpoint inhibitors and antibiotics
Official title: Acute Kidney Injury with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Beta-Lactam Antibiotics
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10998392 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain cancer treatments can sometimes harm the kidneys, especially when used with common antibiotics, to help doctors find ways to spot and prevent kidney problems early, making treatment safer for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $83,884 |
| NIH project number | 1F32DK141217-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10998392 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients aged 65 and older who are receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors and beta-lactam antibiotics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors or beta-lactam antibiotics may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding acute kidney injury (AKI) as a serious side effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a new class of cancer treatments. It aims to identify risk factors and monitoring parameters for AKI, particularly in patients receiving ICIs alongside beta-lactam antibiotics, which are commonly used in cancer care. By studying the mechanisms behind this kidney injury, the research seeks to improve early detection and prevention strategies, ultimately enhancing patient safety and treatment outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better monitoring and prevention of kidney injury in cancer patients, improving their overall treatment experience and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that understanding drug interactions and adverse effects in cancer treatments can lead to significant improvements in patient care, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thelen, Haedi — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Thelen, Haedi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how immune checkpoint drugs can trigger inflammatory arthritis in cancer patients
This research looks at why some cancer patients develop inflammatory arthritis after PD-1 inhibitor therapy and what could be done to prevent it.
-
SEAK Alliance: Improving Care for AKI Patients in the Southeast
A national, patient-centered effort to improve post-hospital care for people who had acute kidney injury in the Southeast.
-
Gut bacteria that can make cancer immunotherapy less effective
This project will see if reducing chronic inflammation driven by certain gut bacteria can help immunotherapy work better for people whose cancers have stopped responding.
-
AKI-related delirium after heart surgery
This grant funds research to understand why some people develop delirium after heart surgery when they also have acute kidney injury.
-
Better ways to identify types of sudden kidney injury in U.S. Veterans
Researchers are looking for genetic and health patterns that define different types of sudden severe kidney injury in Veterans to help guide future care.
-
Neuroimmune control of kidney injury using noninvasive ultrasound
A new approach uses targeted ultrasound to gently stimulate nerves and immune signals to help the kidney recover after injury.
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.