Kidney MRI to spot people with high-risk chronic kidney disease
Functional MRI to Identify High-risk CKD Phenotypes
This project uses a gadolinium-free MRI to look for signs of scarring, low blood flow, and low oxygen in the kidneys of people with chronic kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249655 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get a non-contrast functional MRI of your kidneys that measures blood flow, oxygen levels, and tissue scarring without needing a dye. Researchers will compare these MRI measures to clinical outcomes and prior biopsy-based findings to find imaging markers linked to worse kidney health. The team has previously used similar scans in multicenter work and will follow participants to see who progresses toward worse kidney function or cardiovascular problems. If reliable imaging markers are found, they could be used to pick people for trials or track treatment effects without routine biopsies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with chronic kidney disease, especially those with albuminuria or reduced kidney function who can undergo MRI and attend follow-up visits, would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: People who cannot have MRI (for example because of certain implanted devices, severe claustrophobia) or those already on dialysis may not be eligible or likely to benefit from this imaging approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors identify people with CKD who are most likely to worsen and allow earlier testing of treatments without requiring a kidney biopsy.
How similar studies have performed: Early and multicenter work by this team and others has shown promising links between kidney fMRI measures and worse kidney function, but the approach is not yet widely validated for routine care.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Srivastava, Anand — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Srivastava, Anand
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 below.