New treatments for kidney diseases targeting the kidneys directly
Official title: Diversification of Glomerular Kidney Disease Treatments By Targeting Therapeutics to the Kidney
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10808617 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to deliver a kidney treatment for people with kidney diseases caused by lupus, using a special version of the drug imatinib that targets the kidneys better, and they will be testing how safe and effective it is in mice.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 22, 2023 |
| Project end | September 14, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $367,900 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AR082655-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10808617 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from glomerular kidney diseases, particularly those with systemic lupus erythematosus-induced kidney disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with kidney diseases not related to glomerular conditions or those who do not respond to immunosuppressive therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative treatments for glomerular kidney diseases, particularly those caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLEN). It aims to create a specialized formulation of the drug imatinib that enhances its delivery specifically to the kidneys, potentially improving treatment outcomes. By using a nanoemulsion technique, the researchers have already demonstrated increased kidney deposition of the drug in animal models. The next steps involve testing the safety and effectiveness of this formulation in chronic dosing scenarios in mouse models of SLEN.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and safer treatment options for patients with glomerular kidney diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in enhancing drug delivery to the kidneys using novel formulations, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Joy, Melanie S — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Joy, Melanie S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Personalized CKD-MBD care using systems biology and AI
A patient-facing program aims to tailor mineral-balance therapy for people with chronic kidney disease by using a computer model and smart decision rules to predict who will respond best to treatments.
-
Mitigating DKA in people with type 1 diabetes and kidney disease using SGLT1/2 inhibitors
This project tests a new way to prevent dangerous diabetic ketoacidosis in people with type 1 diabetes and chronic kidney disease who are using SGLT inhibitors, by tracking ketones in real time and combining glucose-keton data for safer therapy.
-
Chronic Kidney Disease in Children: following young people as they grow up with CKD
A long-term study in kids with chronic kidney disease tracks kidney function and heart health as they transition into adulthood.
-
Chronic Kidney Disease in Children follow-up study
A long-term study that follows kids with kidney disease as they grow into young adults, collecting health data from home and official records.
-
KDARC: Building a research backbone to study aging and kidney disease
Aimed at creating a dedicated infrastructure to advance aging-related kidney disease research so clinicians can better care for older adults.
-
Malaria-related kidney injury and its link to chronic kidney disease in children
This grant looks at why some children who have malaria develop kidney injury and later chronic kidney disease, focusing on how severe malaria affects the kidneys over time.
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.