Stopping damaged kidney tubule cells from driving long-term kidney disease
Roles and Regulation of Failed Repair Proximal Tubule in the AKI to CKD Transition
Researchers aim to stop a small group of injured kidney tubule cells from causing long-lasting inflammation and scarring after an acute kidney injury, to help people keep their kidney function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294898 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you follow this work, you'll learn how some cells in the kidney's proximal tubules fail to heal after a sudden injury and then promote inflammation and scarring. The team will identify these 'failed repair' cells by their molecular markers (like Vcam1) and study how they signal to surrounding tissue. They will use a mix of human kidney samples and laboratory models to trace the cell changes and test ways to block or reverse the harmful cell state. The goal is to find targets that could be translated into treatments to help kidneys recover fully after acute injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who recently had an acute kidney injury or who are at high risk of AKI-related complications would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical work.
Not a fit: Patients with long-standing genetic kidney diseases already at end-stage kidney failure, or whose kidney problems are unrelated to acute tubular injury, are less likely to benefit from this specific line of work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This research could lead to treatments that help kidneys fully heal after acute injury and prevent progression to chronic kidney disease.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have recently described maladaptive proximal tubule cells and their harmful signals, but turning those findings into effective therapies is still largely unproven and new.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Humphreys, Benjamin D. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Humphreys, Benjamin D.
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.