Metabolic Boost to Kidney Health in ADPKD
Official title: Metabolic reprogramming and FGF21 signaling in kidney health and polycystic kidney diseases
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11365093 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins-led study is exploring how fueling kidney cells with fats and FGF21 signals could slow kidney disease in adults with ADPKD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | December 18, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $423,718 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133118-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365093 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease who are able to participate in preclinical research and potential future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without ADPKD or those unable to adhere to metabolic interventions may not benefit.
What this research studies
Adults with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease may benefit if boosting fatty acid use in kidney cells and activating FGF21 pathways can slow cyst growth. The project will examine how improved mitochondrial energy use and ketone body oxidation affect disease progression, using animal models to uncover the detailed biology. Researchers hope to translate these insights into dietary or metabolic strategies that patients could follow alongside standard care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new metabolic or dietary approaches to slow kidney disease in ADPKD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies suggest metabolic reprogramming can influence PKD progression, but human-targeted evidence remains limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dai, Dao-Fu — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Dai, Dao-Fu
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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.