New enzyme therapy for treating cystinuria
Official title: Effective treatment of cystinuria with a novel engineered cyst(e)ine-degrading human enzyme therapy
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-10939186 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new enzyme therapy to help people with cystinuria, a condition that causes kidney stones, by breaking down cystine in the urine to prevent stone formation and make treatment easier and more effective.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $437,761 |
| NIH project number | 1R21TR005156-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10939186 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with cystinuria who experience recurrent kidney stones.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have cystinuria or those with other unrelated kidney disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel human enzyme therapy aimed at treating cystinuria, a rare condition that leads to the formation of kidney stones due to high levels of cystine in the urine. The approach involves engineering an enzyme that can effectively degrade cystine, thereby reducing its concentration and preventing stone formation. By addressing the underlying metabolic imbalance, this therapy aims to provide a safer and more effective treatment option with fewer side effects and a lower treatment burden for patients. The goal is to improve patient adherence to therapy and enhance their quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of kidney stones in cystinuria patients and improve their overall quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While enzyme therapies for metabolic disorders are promising, this specific approach for cystinuria is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior research.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Georgiou, George Georgiou — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Georgiou, George Georgiou
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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.