Understanding Kidney Problems After Heart Surgery

Hepcidin-Ferroportin-Iron Axis in Cardiac Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury

NIH-funded research Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11163318

This research looks at specific blood markers to understand why some people develop kidney problems after heart surgery, hoping to find ways to prevent it.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11163318 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many people face kidney complications after heart surgery, and currently, there's no reliable way to prevent or treat this. Our team is exploring how certain proteins related to iron in the body might play a key role in these kidney issues. We are carefully examining blood samples and health information from thousands of adult patients who have already had heart surgery. By looking at these markers before and after surgery, we hope to identify early signs that could help predict and ultimately prevent kidney problems.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research focuses on adult patients who have undergone or will undergo cardiac surgery and are at risk for acute kidney injury.

Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing cardiac surgery or are not at risk for acute kidney injury would not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to predict and prevent acute kidney injury in patients undergoing heart surgery, improving their recovery and long-term health.

How similar studies have performed: This approach builds on existing knowledge from both animal and human studies, suggesting a strong scientific foundation for the proposed mechanisms.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.