Using platelet mitochondria to help kidneys recover after sudden injury
Official title: Platelet-mitochondria transplantation to treat mitochondrial dysfunction in acute kidney injury
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-11317163 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether giving healthy mitochondria carried by platelets can help people with sudden (acute) kidney injury regain kidney function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $317,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135470-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11317163 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who recently experienced acute kidney injury—such as after major surgery, severe infection, or low blood flow to the kidneys—would be the most likely candidates for this approach.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with long-standing end-stage kidney disease or irreversible loss of kidney tissue are unlikely to benefit from this therapy.
What this research studies
Researchers at Temple University are developing a therapy that uses platelets to deliver healthy mitochondria to damaged kidney cells after acute kidney injury. They will combine laboratory experiments and preclinical models and work with kidney and mitochondrial experts to refine and validate the delivery method. The approach aims to reduce oxidative damage and support proximal tubular cells that often fail during low-oxygen episodes. If early tests are promising, the team plans to move this work toward clinical trials in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help injured kidneys recover, lower the risk of progression to chronic kidney disease, and reduce the need for dialysis.
How similar studies have gone: Early preclinical studies of mitochondrial transplantation have shown promising results in animal models, but human clinical evidence in AKI is still very limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bouchareb, Rihab — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Bouchareb, Rihab
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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.