Why kidneys sometimes scar after injury
Adaptive and maladaptive repair after kidney injury
Researchers are looking at why kidneys sometimes fully recover after injury but other times develop scarring that leads to long-term kidney problems, especially for people who've had acute kidney injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249630 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I had a kidney injury, this work would follow how my kidney tubule cells either repair themselves or shift into a harmful state that promotes scarring. The team uses single-cell analysis, animal models, and human kidney tissue to trace signals like Notch and chemokines such as IL-34 and CXCL1 that attract immune cells. They are identifying specific damaged tubule cell types that fail to finish repair and studying how metabolic changes lock them into a fibrotic program. By mapping these steps, researchers hope to find points where drugs or other therapies could stop scarring after injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who recently experienced acute kidney injury or those with early-stage chronic kidney disease at risk of progressive scarring.
Not a fit: People with long-standing end-stage kidney disease on dialysis are unlikely to benefit directly from these repair-focused approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to treatments that prevent scarring after kidney injury and help preserve kidney function.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab and animal studies — including work showing Notch signaling's role and identifying maladaptive tubule cells — are promising, but effective human therapies have not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Susztak, Katalin — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Susztak, Katalin
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 below.