Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Emory University received a $821,916 Project Grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847), awarded on March 20, 2026, with completion expected by February 28, 2030. The grant supports basic biomedical research investigating the mechanisms of angiotensin II signaling within intercalated cells of the kidney. The research aims to elucidate how angiotensin II upregulates pendrin—a chloride-bicarbonate exchanger—through multiple signaling pathways including immune cell activation, reactive oxygen species production, and isolevuglandins. Understanding these mechanisms is intended to advance knowledge of how angiotensin II contributes to hypertension in response to high-salt diets and elevated angiotensin II conditions.

The project delivers fundamental scientific research findings that clarify novel feed-forward amplification loops whereby angiotensin II-induced oxidative stress and related molecular processes increase pendrin abundance, which subsequently raises blood pressure and generates additional reactive oxygen species. These research outcomes are expected to inform potential therapeutic interventions targeting the angiotensin II-pendrin pathway as a mechanism for managing hypertension and associated kidney disease, thereby supporting NIDDK's mission to advance understanding and treatment of kidney diseases and related metabolic disorders.