Mitochondria-targeted treatments for uromodulin-related chronic kidney disease
Official title: Therapeutic Targeting of Mitochondria in Uromodulin-Associated Chronic Kidney Disease
Funded at St. Louis VA Medical Center · NIH-11172240 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to fix mitochondria in kidney cells to slow or stop kidney damage in adults with uromodulin-related chronic kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Louis VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (St. Louis, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006401-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172240 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with uromodulin-associated CKD (ADTKD-UMOD) or who carry pathogenic UMOD mutations, including many Veterans, would be the ideal candidates to benefit from this work.
✕Less likely to help
People whose kidney disease is caused by other genes or conditions and who do not carry UMOD variants are unlikely to receive direct benefit from these therapies.
What this research studies
Researchers created a mouse carrying the same UMOD mutation found in many people using CRISPR and study the kidney's thick ascending limb cells to see how mitochondrial energy production and cleanup (mitophagy) fail and trigger inflammation. They measure oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial biogenesis, track STING-driven inflammation, and test ways to boost mitochondrial function or reduce harmful inflammation, possibly using gene-delivery tools. The team will use these preclinical findings to guide therapies that could be translated to patients and to better understand UMOD genetic variants found in Veterans and people with hypertension or diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to treatments that preserve kidney function and delay or prevent progression to kidney failure in people with UMOD mutations.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory studies targeting mitochondrial dysfunction and STING inflammation have shown promise in animal models, but these approaches are still largely untested in people with UMOD-related CKD.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Louis VA Medical Center
St. Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Ying Maggie — St. Louis VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chen, Ying Maggie
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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.