Renal telocytes and Piezo1: how kidney sensors control blood pressure
Official title: Renal medullary telocyte in pressure natriuresis and arterial blood pressure control: Piezo1 channel as a pressure sensor
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11434495 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study a kidney cell type and a pressure sensor protein to understand how the body keeps blood pressure in check.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $714,743 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK149540-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11434495 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with or at risk for hypertension in future translational stages or those contributing tissue samples for related studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without hypertension may not directly benefit from this basic mechanistic research.
What this research studies
This project looks at kidney telocytes in the renal medulla and their Piezo1 channels to see how they sense pressure and help trigger sodium excretion. By using a telocyte-specific Piezo1 mouse model, the study will examine changes in exosome signaling and salt handling that influence long-term blood pressure control. The goal is to connect cellular sensing events to whole-body BP regulation through mechanistic experiments and animal studies. Findings could reveal new targets for therapies that support healthy blood pressure without relying solely on traditional drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new biological targets to improve blood pressure control, potentially guiding novel treatments for hypertension.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies show Piezo1 and telocytes participate in mechanosensation and signaling, supporting the plausibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Pinlan — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Li, Pinlan
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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.