Understanding how cell interactions affect kidney healing after injury
Official title: Importance of cell-matrix interactions in kidney repair after acute kidney injury
Funded at University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt · NIH-10994609 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the environment around kidney cells helps them heal after an injury, with the goal of finding better treatments for people recovering from acute kidney injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $438,257 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK132059-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10994609 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced acute kidney injury and are seeking innovative treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic kidney disease or those who have not experienced acute kidney injury may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the kidney's local microenvironment in the healing process following acute kidney injury (AKI). It focuses on how various cells and the extracellular matrix interact to influence kidney repair. By examining these interactions, the study aims to identify new treatment strategies that could enhance recovery from AKI. Patients may benefit from insights gained about the cellular processes involved in kidney repair, potentially leading to improved therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly improve kidney recovery after acute injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding cell-matrix interactions in other organ injuries, suggesting potential for success in this area as well.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
Farmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Dong — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Dong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
SEAK Alliance: Improving Care for AKI Patients in the Southeast
A national, patient-centered effort to improve post-hospital care for people who had acute kidney injury in the Southeast.
-
AKI-related delirium after heart surgery
This grant funds research to understand why some people develop delirium after heart surgery when they also have acute kidney injury.
-
Better ways to identify types of sudden kidney injury in U.S. Veterans
Researchers are looking for genetic and health patterns that define different types of sudden severe kidney injury in Veterans to help guide future care.
-
Neuroimmune control of kidney injury using noninvasive ultrasound
A new approach uses targeted ultrasound to gently stimulate nerves and immune signals to help the kidney recover after injury.
-
Structure-based approach to prevent kidney injury from polymyxin use
Aims to block how polymyxin damages the kidney so it can be used more safely to treat hard-to-kill infections.
-
Using smart computer predictions to prevent kidney injury after heart surgery
A machine-learning approach uses routinely collected hospital data to predict who might develop acute kidney injury after heart surgery, so clinicians can act early.
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.