Understanding sex differences in kidney health
Official title: Sexual dimorphism in the mammalian kidney
Funded at California Institute of Technology · NIH-11319695 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores why men and women might experience kidney injury and chronic kidney disease differently.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project start | January 2, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $461,702 |
| NIH project number | 7R01DK126925-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319695 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation but aims to benefit all individuals susceptible to kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention will not receive benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
We know that men and women often respond differently to kidney problems, and this project aims to uncover the biological reasons behind these differences. Researchers will look closely at how genes are expressed in kidney cells, specifically focusing on how these patterns vary between sexes. The goal is to understand how hormones and other factors contribute to these unique kidney cell states, which could explain why kidney diseases affect men and women in distinct ways. This foundational knowledge is crucial for developing more personalized treatments in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a better understanding of sex-specific kidney diseases and help develop more targeted treatments for men and women.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of detailed single-cell analysis for sex differences in the kidney is relatively new, the concept of sex-based differences in disease is well-established in other areas of medicine.
Where this research is happening
-
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcmahon, Andrew P. — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Mcmahon, Andrew P.
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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.