Multidimensional map of healthy and diseased children's kidneys

Research Project 1: A Multidimensional Molecular Atlas of Healthy and Diseased Human Pediatric Kidney

NIH-funded research Washington University · NIH-11172476

Creating a detailed map of the cells and gene activity in healthy and injured children's kidneys to guide better care for kids with kidney problems.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWashington University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Saint Louis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11172476 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project will collect pediatric kidney tissue and clinical samples from donor organs and collaborating hospitals to represent healthy development and common childhood kidney injuries. Scientists will use single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and ATAC-seq to identify which genes are active in each cell type and how gene activity is regulated. The team will compare normal postnatal kidney development with conditions such as congenital anomalies and acute kidney injury to pinpoint molecular changes linked to disease. The shared pediatric kidney atlas and dataset will be made available to researchers to help drive new diagnostics and therapies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are infants, children, and young people with kidney conditions or acute kidney injury, and families willing to donate pediatric kidney tissue or allow clinical sample collection for research.

Not a fit: People without kidney problems or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct personal medical benefit from this mapping project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the atlas could enable earlier diagnosis, more precise treatments, and better prevention of long-term kidney disease in children.

How similar studies have performed: Related single-cell and ATAC-seq atlases have improved understanding of adult and fetal kidneys, but a focused postnatal pediatric kidney atlas is relatively new and fills an important gap.

Where this research is happening

Saint Louis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.