NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Non-canonical NF-kB and inflammation in diabetic kidney disease

Official title: Non-canonical NF-kB signaling in diabetic kidney disease

Funded at University of Hawaii at Manoa · NIH-11372089 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A study to understand how a specific inflammatory pathway worsens kidney disease in adults with type 2 diabetes and how it might be treated.

More Kidney Disease research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Honolulu, United States)
Project startAugust 1, 2017
Project endApril 30, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$273,873
NIH project number5P20GM113134-08
Project IDNIH-11372089 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are adults with type 2 diabetes at risk for or with early signs of diabetic kidney disease, potentially eligible for future translational studies.

Less likely to help

People without diabetic kidney disease or those not affected by kidney inflammation may not directly benefit.

What this research studies

If you have type 2 diabetes and are at risk for kidney problems, this project looks at why inflammation and cellular waste management fail in the kidneys. Researchers will study kidney cells under high blood sugar to see how the non-canonical NF-kB signaling pathway interacts with autophagy. They will test what happens when a key receptor (Fn14) is removed in mice to see if kidney inflammation can be reduced, and they will explore potential inhibitors that could prevent disease progression. The work focuses on mechanisms that could lead to new ways to slow or stop kidney damage in diabetes.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, results could lead to new treatments that reduce kidney inflammation and slow DKD progression for people with type 2 diabetes.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked inflammatory pathways to kidney damage, but this project aims to uncover specific mechanisms and test targeted interventions.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Hawaii at Manoa
    Honolulu, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Ortega, Michael a. — University of Hawaii at Manoa
  • Study coordinator: Ortega, Michael a.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.