Understanding a protein in diabetic kidney disease
Official title: Role of GSK3beta in diabetic kidney disease
Funded at University of Toledo Health Sci Campus · NIH-11128712 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to understand how a specific protein called GSK3beta contributes to diabetic kidney disease, hoping to find new ways to protect the kidneys.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Toledo Health Sci Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Toledo, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $339,900 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133203-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128712 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with diabetic kidney disease could potentially benefit from future treatments developed based on this foundational understanding.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diabetic kidney disease would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Diabetic kidney disease is a serious condition that often leads to kidney failure, and we currently lack effective treatments. This project explores how problems with insulin signaling in kidney cells, specifically podocytes, play a role in this disease. Researchers are focusing on a protein called GSK3beta, which appears to be overactive in the kidneys of people with diabetic kidney disease. By studying how GSK3beta affects kidney cell damage and aging, we hope to uncover new targets for future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify a new target for medications that could slow or stop the progression of diabetic kidney disease.
How similar studies have gone: The role of GSK3beta in diabetic kidney disease is currently debated, with limited and sometimes conflicting findings from previous studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Toledo Health Sci Campus
Toledo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gong, Rujun — University of Toledo Health Sci Campus
- Study coordinator: Gong, Rujun
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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.