Understanding how oxalate levels affect kidney stone formation
Official title: Comprehensive Analysis of Oxalate Homeostasis in Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stone Formers
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11000774 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at what causes high levels of oxalate in urine, which can lead to kidney stones, and it will explore how things like diet and gut bacteria might help lower those levels for people who are prone to forming stones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | December 18, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $589,796 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK137784-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11000774 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of kidney stones or those with other types of kidney stones may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the factors that contribute to high urinary oxalate levels, which are linked to the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones. It aims to explore how environmental, dietary, and metabolic factors influence oxalate absorption and synthesis in patients who form these stones. The study will also examine the role of a specific gut bacterium, Oxalobacter formigenes, in reducing urinary oxalate levels and its potential for colonization in kidney stone formers. By identifying these mechanisms, the research seeks to improve prevention strategies for kidney stone disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better prevention methods for calcium oxalate kidney stones, reducing the incidence and recurrence of this common condition.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding gut microbiota can influence oxalate metabolism, suggesting potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fargue, Sonia — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Fargue, Sonia
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Uromodulin and peptides as new targets in kidney stone biology
This NIH grant explores how a urine protein called uromodulin and its peptide pieces influence calcium oxalate kidney stones, using dogs and human biology to understand why stones form and how to prevent them.
-
Oxalate‑eating probiotic to help prevent kidney stones
A new probiotic strain is being developed to help prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones by breaking down oxalic acid in the gut.
-
Oxalate and your immune system in kidney stones
This grant looks at how oxalate in our diet affects kidney stone risk and our immune cells, especially in adults with calcium oxalate stones.
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How the kidney channel claudin‑2 affects calcium balance and calcium kidney stones
This project looks at how a kidney channel called claudin‑2 helps keep calcium from building up and forming calcium kidney stones.
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Oxalate balance in people with calcium oxalate kidney stones
This project will find out why some adults make or absorb extra oxalate that increases the chance of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
-
A Probiotic to Prevent Kidney Stones
This project is developing a new probiotic to help people prevent kidney stones by breaking down a key substance called oxalic acid.
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.