Understanding how mechanical ventilation causes kidney injury
Official title: Mechanisms of acute kidney injury due to mechanical ventilation
Funded at Veterans Medical Research Fdn/san Diego · NIH-11084459 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using a breathing machine for very sick patients might affect their kidneys and cause problems, with the goal of finding ways to protect kidney health in those who need this treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Medical Research Fdn/san Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $456,700 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK136756-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11084459 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilation and are at risk for acute kidney injury.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not critically ill or do not require mechanical ventilation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms by which mechanical ventilation, a critical treatment for severely ill patients, can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI). The study aims to identify the physiological changes in kidney function that occur during mechanical ventilation, which may contribute to increased risks of kidney damage. By using advanced techniques to assess kidney function, the researchers hope to uncover new pathways that could be targeted for future therapies to prevent or treat AKI. This work is essential for improving outcomes for patients who require mechanical ventilation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly reduce the risk of kidney injury in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding the mechanisms of kidney injury can lead to improved treatment strategies, suggesting that this approach has the potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Medical Research Fdn/san Diego
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hepokoski, Mark Lawrence — Veterans Medical Research Fdn/san Diego
- Study coordinator: Hepokoski, Mark Lawrence
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How breathing machines can harm the kidneys
Doctors will look at how ventilators change kidney filtering and salt handling in people who are critically ill to help prevent kidney damage.
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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.
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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.
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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.
-
Advancing Acute Respiratory Infection Care for Kids on Home Ventilators
This grant aims to improve how doctors and families manage acute respiratory infections in children who rely on invasive long-term home ventilation.
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.