Preventing immune-driven progression from sudden kidney injury to chronic kidney disease

Targeting immune dysfunction during transition from AKI to CKD

['FUNDING_R01'] · YALE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11360633

This project tests whether blocking certain immune cells can help people who had sudden kidney injury avoid long-term kidney damage.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorYALE UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW HAVEN, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11360633 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You may have sudden kidney damage called acute kidney injury (AKI) that can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD), and this project focuses on immune reactions that seem to drive that change. Researchers use a mouse model that mimics rapid AKI-to-CKD transition, study human kidney biopsy samples, and apply single-cell RNA sequencing to find the chemokines and receptors that recruit T cells and neutrophils. They then block or remove those immune cells in mice to see if injured tubules heal better and kidney mass is preserved. The team aims to identify druggable signals that could be tested in patients to prevent AKI from becoming chronic.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who recently experienced acute kidney injury or who have biopsy-confirmed AKI and are at risk of progressing to CKD.

Not a fit: Patients whose kidney problems are not related to acute injury (for example, inherited kidney diseases or long-standing non-AKI causes) or those with established end-stage kidney disease are less likely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to treatments that stop immune-driven damage and reduce the chance of developing chronic kidney disease after AKI.

How similar studies have performed: Similar immune-targeting approaches have reduced kidney damage in animal models and the investigators' prior mouse work showed less atrophy after removing T cells and neutrophils, but human benefit remains unproven.

Where this research is happening

NEW HAVEN, UNITED STATES

Researchers

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 below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.