Nanoparticle therapies for glomerular kidney disease
Official title: Nanoparticle-targeted therapeutic development for glomerular diseases
Funded at City College of New York · NIH-11323624 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project creates tiny, kidney-targeting nanoparticles to deliver treatments for people with protein-leaking glomerular kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | City College of New York NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 23, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $262,975 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD017979-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323624 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults with proteinuric glomerular kidney diseases (for example diabetic or hypertensive glomerulopathy) who could join future clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without glomerular proteinuria or those already on chronic dialysis for end-stage kidney disease are unlikely to benefit directly from these therapies.
What this research studies
If you have proteinuric kidney disease, researchers are designing safe polymer nanoparticles that home to the kidney's filtering units (glomeruli) so medicines reach damaged podocytes directly. They will test these particles in lab models and on human-derived samples to check targeting, safety, and whether they reduce protein loss in the urine. An interdisciplinary team of engineers, cell biologists, nephrologists, and pharmacologists will refine promising designs and work toward early clinical testing. The effort focuses on common causes of glomerular disease like diabetic and hypertensive injury and aims to address disparities that increase risk for African American patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, targeted nanoparticles could deliver drugs straight to damaged glomeruli, lowering proteinuria and slowing progression to kidney failure.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies have shown strong kidney-targeting of polymer nanoparticles, but human testing of this specific approach is still limited and remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
City College of New York
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Ryan Martin — City College of New York
- Study coordinator: Williams, Ryan Martin
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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.