Role of a suPAR fragment in diabetes and kidney disease
Official title: Role of proteolytic suPAR fragment in insulin dependent diabetes and kidney disease
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11333340 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A medical research project is testing whether a specific protein fragment in the blood harms both the pancreas and kidneys, which could lead to future therapies for adults with diabetes and kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | May 3, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $659,230 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133364-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333340 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with or at risk for CKD or diabetes may be eligible if they meet study criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals may not experience any direct benefit from this specific study.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a protein fragment called D2D3 suPAR and how it might drive injury to both kidney cells and pancreatic beta cells in adults. Researchers will study how D2D3 activates certain cell receptors (alphaV beta3) that can damage the kidney filter and pancreatic cells. The work will explore the biological pathways in humans or human-derived samples to understand disease processes and identify targets for therapy. If successful, findings could inform new treatment approaches to prevent or slow kidney and diabetes-related damage. The study is conducted at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, led by Dr. Sanja Sevér, over a four-year period with NIH support.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how a blood protein fragment contributes to kidney and pancreas damage could lead to new treatments to protect these organs.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest similar suPAR fragments are linked to organ injury; whether this fragment causes double organ injury remains being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sever, Sanja — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Sever, Sanja
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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.