New enzyme therapy for treating cystinuria
Effective treatment of cystinuria with a novel engineered cyst(e)ine-degrading human enzyme therapy
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 ID | NIH-10939186 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with cystinuria who experience recurrent kidney stones.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have cystinuria or those with other unrelated kidney disorders may not benefit from this research.
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 performed: 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
Austin, United States
- 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
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 below.