Understanding CKDu risk factors and predictors in Central America’s farming communities
Official title: Exploring risk factors and predictors of endemic CKDu in agricultural regions of four Central America countries
Funded at Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica · NIH-11528624 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in rural Central America will follow young agricultural workers to find factors linked to kidney decline and identify biomarkers that could predict CKDu.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Heredia, Costa Rica) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $213,952 |
| NIH project number | 3U01DK130046-06S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11528624 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are young adults working in agriculture in Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, and Guatemala, with or without CKDu, who consent to long-term follow-up and providing biological samples.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not engaged in agricultural occupations or outside the endemic regions may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project researches why chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu) is common among young farm workers in four Central American countries. Researchers will track people over time, collect blood and tissue samples, and examine factors like heat exposure, labor conditions, nutrition, infections, and toxins. By analyzing genetic and biomarker data from stored samples, the study aims to identify who is at risk and what signals precede kidney function decline. The results could guide prevention and early interventions in affected communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could help doctors identify at-risk individuals early and inform public health strategies to prevent CKDu in farming regions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous CKDu research has identified risk patterns in affected regions, though this study emphasizes prospective follow-up and biomarker discovery in Central America.
Where this research is happening
-
Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica
Heredia, Costa Rica Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crowe, Jennifer — Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica
- Study coordinator: Crowe, Jennifer
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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.