Oxalate‑eating probiotic to help prevent kidney stones
Official title: Oxalate Biodegrading Probiotic for Kidney Stone Prevention
Funded at Unlocked Labs INC. · NIH-11364194 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new probiotic strain is being developed to help prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones by breaking down oxalic acid in the gut.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Unlocked Labs INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Laramie, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $138,861 |
| NIH project number | 5R44DK133067-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364194 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones seeking a simpler prevention strategy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without kidney stone risk or those unable to take probiotics may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on early success to create a probiotic that can biodegrade oxalic acid in the digestive system. By lowering urinary oxalate levels, the idea is to reduce stone risk without relying on strict diets or medications that cause side effects. The approach focuses on a safe, cost‑effective bacterial option that patients could take regularly. The team aims to address a root cause of most kidney stones and improve long‑term prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, people at risk for kidney stones could reduce stone recurrence with a convenient probiotic approach.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed promise in early phases, with the probiotic concept addressing oxalate reduction.
Where this research is happening
-
Unlocked Labs INC.
Laramie, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Geisler, Christoph — Unlocked Labs INC.
- Study coordinator: Geisler, Christoph
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Uromodulin and peptides as new targets in kidney stone biology
This NIH grant explores how a urine protein called uromodulin and its peptide pieces influence calcium oxalate kidney stones, using dogs and human biology to understand why stones form and how to prevent them.
-
Oxalate and your immune system in kidney stones
This grant looks at how oxalate in our diet affects kidney stone risk and our immune cells, especially in adults with calcium oxalate stones.
-
How the kidney channel claudin‑2 affects calcium balance and calcium kidney stones
This project looks at how a kidney channel called claudin‑2 helps keep calcium from building up and forming calcium kidney stones.
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Oxalate balance in people with calcium oxalate kidney stones
This project will find out why some adults make or absorb extra oxalate that increases the chance of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
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A Probiotic to Prevent Kidney Stones
This project is developing a new probiotic to help people prevent kidney stones by breaking down a key substance called oxalic acid.
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Understanding how oxalate affects kidney stone formation and immune response
This study is looking at how eating foods high in oxalate might lead to kidney stones and how it affects kidney health, so if you've had kidney stones before, this research could help find ways to prevent them from coming back.
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.