New treatments for kidney diseases that cause protein loss.
Official title: New Therapeutic Leads for Proteinuric Kidney Diseases
Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-10842285 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new treatment that could help improve kidney function by focusing on a specific pathway important for kidney cells, especially the ones that filter blood, to reduce protein loss in urine, which is a common issue for people with kidney problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $256,320 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133940-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10842285 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults suffering from proteinuric kidney diseases, particularly those with podocyte injury.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-proteinuric kidney diseases or those without podocyte-related issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new therapy that targets the ROBO/SLIT signaling pathway, which is crucial for kidney function. By studying both animal models and human kidney samples, the researchers aim to understand how this pathway affects kidney cells, particularly podocytes, which are essential for filtering blood. The goal is to find a way to enhance podocyte adhesion and reduce protein loss in urine, a condition known as albuminuria, which is common in various kidney diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatments that significantly improve kidney health and reduce protein loss in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting similar pathways for kidney protection, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Weining — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Lu, Weining
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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.