Federal Grant Award Summary

Vanderbilt University Medical Center received a $866,265 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 May 13, 2026, with completion targeted for January 31, 2031. The award supports investigator-initiated biomedical research investigating non-canonical EphB2-mediated signaling pathways in acute kidney injury (AKI) and its progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The research examines how the tyrosine kinase ephrin receptor B2 (EphB2) activates TGF-β signaling independently of ligands in proximal tubule epithelial cells, contributing to inflammatory and fibrotic kidney responses.

The project delivers fundamental scientific research aimed at understanding disease mechanisms and identifying novel therapeutic targets for kidney disease. Specifically, the research uses animal models of AKI-to-CKD progression to evaluate EphB2 inhibitors as potential interventions, with documented outcomes including reduced tubular injury, inflammation, and collagen production. This work directly supports NIDDK's mission to advance basic and clinical biomedical research that improves prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney diseases through investigator-initiated research conducted at VUMC facilities in Forest Hills, Tennessee.