Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Michigan received a $690,854 Project Grant award 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), effective February 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030. This award supports basic biomedical research investigating the molecular and genetic mechanisms that control epithelial cell state changes in the kidney during injury and recovery. The research focuses on identifying how the PAX8 transcription factor functions as a central regulator of cell differentiation in proximal tubule epithelial cells following acute kidney injury (AKI), with the goal of understanding why some patients recover kidney function while others develop chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The funded research will deliver novel in vivo and in vitro experimental models and comprehensive genomic analyses to elucidate PAX8's genome-wide target genes and regulatory mechanisms during kidney epithelial regeneration. The project aims to determine how PAX8 toggles cells between a de-differentiated, stress-resilient state and a differentiated, fully functional state—knowledge that could inform therapeutic strategies to promote successful kidney regeneration and prevent the progression from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease. Research will be conducted at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus.