Understanding kidney problems caused by cancer immunotherapy
Official title: Mechanisms driving acute and chronic kidney function decline after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for cancer
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11092222 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain cancer treatments can sometimes harm the kidneys, and it's for patients who have had kidney problems after these treatments; by examining samples from these patients, researchers hope to understand why this happens and find ways to prevent or fix these issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $665,456 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK130839-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11092222 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who have developed acute interstitial nephritis or other kidney issues after receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not received immune checkpoint inhibitors or those without kidney complications from cancer treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are used to treat cancer, can lead to kidney injuries in some patients. By enrolling patients who have experienced kidney issues after receiving these therapies, the study will analyze kidney tissue, blood, and urine samples using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing. The goal is to uncover the underlying mechanisms of kidney damage, which could help in developing strategies to prevent or treat these complications in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better management and prevention of kidney injuries in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been descriptive research on immune-related adverse events, this study aims to provide novel insights into the specific mechanisms of kidney injury, making it a potentially groundbreaking approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sise, Meghan E. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sise, Meghan E.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A study using dogs with naturally occurring invasive bladder cancer to help improve immune checkpoint therapies for people with the same disease.
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A long-term study follows adults with advanced skin cancer who are starting immune checkpoint therapy to understand the pattern of emotional and psychological symptoms they experience.
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Immunologic and Antigenic Drivers of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor–Associated Heart Inflammation
A doctor-scientist team is studying why cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint drugs sometimes develop dangerous heart inflammation and what immune targets cause it.
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Pathway-guided treatment of colon toxicity from immune checkpoint inhibitors
A patient-focused look at a study that aims to understand and improve how immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy causes colon inflammation and how to treat it more effectively.
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.