Understanding how certain kidney cells contribute to severe kidney disease in African Americans
Official title: Defining The Role of Failed-Repair Proximal Tubule Cells in AdvancedRenal Disease in African Americans
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11137186 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain kidney cells that don’t heal properly after injury can cause more problems for people, especially African Americans who are more likely to develop serious kidney disease, and it aims to understand how a specific gene might help these cells repair themselves better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00DK134882-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11137186 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are African American individuals with a history of acute kidney injury, diabetes, or hypertension.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of kidney injury or related risk factors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of specific kidney cells that fail to repair after injury, particularly in African Americans who are at a higher risk for end-stage renal disease. The study focuses on how these failed-repair proximal tubule cells can lead to inflammation and fibrosis, worsening kidney health. Using advanced techniques like single nucleus RNA sequencing, the research aims to identify key molecular players involved in this process. By creating a specialized mouse model, the researchers will explore the impact of a specific gene, Tnik, on these kidney cells and their repair mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies to prevent or treat kidney disease in African Americans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding kidney repair mechanisms, but this specific focus on failed-repair cells in African Americans is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bradford, Shayna Toyan Joy — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Bradford, Shayna Toyan Joy
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.