RAGE–SIRT1 medicines to help dialysis fistulas mature

Translational study of RAGE-SIRT1 therapy for arteriovenous fistula maturation

NIH-funded research VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System · NIH-11206899

This project looks at whether drugs that block RAGE or boost SIRT1 can help newly created dialysis arteriovenous fistulas mature and stay open for people who need hemodialysis.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVA Salt Lake City Healthcare System NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Salt Lake City, United States)
Project IDNIH-11206899 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

From a patient's perspective, researchers are studying two proteins (RAGE and SIRT1) that affect the lining of blood vessels after a dialysis fistula is made. They will use laboratory and animal models to see how disturbed blood flow causes DNA damage and a harmful cell-aging response that may block fistula maturation. The team will test small-molecule RAGE inhibitors and SIRT1 activators to see if those medicines improve vessel remodeling and blood flow in these models. The goal is to translate promising findings toward treatments that could be tried in people who need reliable dialysis access.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with kidney failure who are planning to get, or who recently had, a surgically created arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis.

Not a fit: People without an AV fistula, those using other forms of dialysis access, or patients whose access problems arise from causes unrelated to RAGE/SIRT1-driven vessel injury may not benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could raise the percentage of fistulas that mature properly, reducing repeat procedures and improving dialysis access durability.

How similar studies have performed: Related drugs targeting vascular inflammation and cell senescence have shown promise in preclinical vascular studies, but using RAGE inhibitors and SIRT1 activators specifically to improve AVF maturation is largely novel and still at the preclinical stage.

Where this research is happening

Salt Lake City, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.