Understanding CKDu in agricultural communities
Official title: Chronic Kidney Diseases of Uncertain Etiology (CKDu) in Agricultural Communities (CURE) Research Consortium - SDCC
Funded at Research Triangle Institute · NIH-11162338 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project brings researchers together to find the causes and clues behind chronic kidney disease of unknown cause in farming communities so people affected can get better prevention and care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Triangle Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,282,662 |
| NIH project number | 5U24DK130043-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162338 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults living in CKDu-endemic agricultural communities, especially those with early signs of reduced kidney function, occupational heat or exposure risk, or a family history of CKDu.
✕Less likely to help
People without ties to affected farming regions or whose kidney disease is already explained by diabetes, hypertension, or other known causes may not benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
From my perspective, researchers will enroll people in farming regions where CKDu is common and collect health histories, exposure information, blood and urine samples, and sometimes kidney biopsy material. A central Scientific Data Coordinating Center will standardize methods, link data from different sites, run analyses for biological markers and genetics, and help the teams agree on what to measure. Field epidemiology sites, laboratory cores, and exposure analysis resources across multiple countries will use the same protocol so results can be compared and combined. The goal is to spot patterns that explain why CKDu happens in some places and to point to ways to prevent it or develop treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal causes of CKDu and point to prevention strategies or targets for new treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller regional studies have suggested links to environmental exposures, heat stress, and biomarkers but have not identified a single cause, so this larger harmonized effort is broader and more coordinated.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Triangle Institute
Research Triangle Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lebov, Jill — Research Triangle Institute
- Study coordinator: Lebov, Jill
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Cause in Agricultural Communities
A wide study to find what causes a serious kidney disease that affects workers in farming areas, by looking at people in high-risk regions.
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Investigating chronic kidney disease in agricultural communities
This study is looking into chronic kidney disease that affects farming communities, and it aims to find out what causes it and how it develops, so if you're a patient, your health information and samples could really help us learn more about this condition.
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Improving kidney health in patients with chronic kidney disease through a systems biology approach.
This study is looking at how low oxygen levels affect kidney cells in people with chronic kidney disease, and it aims to create a helpful scoring system to better understand how these changes relate to patient outcomes, which could lead to improved treatments for those living with this condition.
-
Metabolic Boost to Kidney Health in ADPKD
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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.