New treatments to stop kidney damage from diabetes
Official title: New siRNA therapeutics to halt diabetic kidney disease
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-10865338 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new ways to protect your kidneys from damage caused by diabetes by using tiny particles to deliver special treatments that can help reduce inflammation, and they hope this will lead to better options for people with diabetic kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $91,260 |
| NIH project number | 1K99DK139418-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10865338 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who are at risk of developing diabetic nephropathy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have diabetes or those with advanced kidney disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new therapies to prevent kidney damage caused by diabetes, a common and serious health issue. The approach involves using lipid nanoparticles to deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA) that can reduce inflammation in the kidneys by targeting specific proteins involved in the disease. By testing these new delivery methods in animal models, the researchers aim to find effective ways to protect kidney function in patients with diabetes. If successful, this could lead to innovative treatments that improve the lives of those affected by diabetic kidney disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new therapeutic option to halt the progression of kidney disease in diabetic patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar siRNA delivery methods for other conditions, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Gary — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Liu, Gary
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
siRNA nanoparticle treatment to stop diabetic kidney damage
A new nanoparticle-delivered gene-silencing treatment aims to lower kidney inflammation in people with diabetes to help protect their kidneys.
-
LRG1’s role in diabetic kidney disease and kidney fibrosis
A study examines how a specific protein, LRG1, influences kidney disease related to diabetes and its scarring, with the aim of finding targeted ways to slow or prevent damage.
-
Genetic discovery for diabetic kidney disease in adults
A scientist team is studying the genes that influence diabetic kidney disease in adults to better understand why some people develop it.
-
Non-canonical NF-kB and inflammation in diabetic kidney disease
A study to understand how a specific inflammatory pathway worsens kidney disease in adults with type 2 diabetes and how it might be treated.
-
Epidermal microfluidic screen to detect diabetic kidney disease
A new skin-based microfluidic test platform may help identify kidney complications in people with diabetes using real-time biomarkers from sweat and glucose data.
-
PFAS exposure and kidney disease risk in teens with type 2 diabetes
Aging and kidney health study in youths with type 2 diabetes to see how a common chemical (PFAS) affects kidney risk and how to prevent or treat it.
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.