Potassium-related approaches to slow chronic kidney disease
Innovative therapeutic approaches to treat chronic kidney disease
Testing whether targeting potassium-regulating channels in muscle, kidney tubule cells, and immune cells can slow kidney damage in people with chronic kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184348 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone with chronic kidney disease, this project looks at how the body’s potassium balance influences kidney damage by focusing on potassium channels called Kir in muscle, kidney tubule cells, and immune cells. The researchers will use animal models, single-cell gene profiling, cell biology experiments, and electrical measurements of cells to see how changing these channels affects kidney injury. Their goal is to find specific molecular pathways that could be turned into new therapies to slow CKD progression. This work is laboratory- and animal-focused now but is intended to guide future treatments for people with CKD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with chronic kidney disease—particularly those with progressive loss of kidney function or abnormalities in potassium handling—would be the likely candidates for future therapies emerging from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose kidney disease is driven by causes unrelated to potassium balance or who are already on dialysis may be less likely to benefit directly from these findings in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new drug targets that slow loss of kidney function in people with chronic kidney disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show higher dietary potassium can protect kidneys and low potassium worsens CKD, but directly targeting Kir channels as a therapy is a novel approach with limited clinical testing so far.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Terker, Andrew S. — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Terker, Andrew S.
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.