New Ways to Treat Kidney Disease in African Americans
JAK-STAT Inhibition to Reduce Racial Disparities in Kidney Disease
This research looks for new ways to treat a specific type of kidney disease that affects many African Americans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11111294 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many African Americans face a higher risk of severe kidney disease, often linked to specific changes in a gene called APOL1. Currently, there are no targeted treatments for this particular form of kidney disease. This project aims to find new ways to protect the kidneys by blocking certain signals (JAK1 and JAK2 kinases) that contribute to kidney cell damage. By stopping these signals, researchers hope to prevent the disease from getting worse and reduce the need for dialysis or transplant.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be African Americans with APOL1-associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) or hypertension-induced chronic kidney disease (HTN-CKD).
Not a fit: Patients whose kidney disease is not linked to the APOL1 gene or who are not African American may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new medications that specifically treat APOL1-associated kidney disease, reducing the burden of end-stage kidney disease in African Americans.
How similar studies have performed: This approach is novel for APOL1-associated kidney disease, building on promising preliminary findings from the researchers' own labs.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Olabisi, Opeyemi Ayodeji — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Olabisi, Opeyemi Ayodeji
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.