Federal Grant Award Summary

Indiana University Indianapolis received a $728,742 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 5, 2026, with a completion date of December 31, 2030. The award funds research aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying kidney stone formation by examining critical interactions between calcium oxalate crystals, bacteria, and host immune factors. The research will deliver scientific insights into how specific bacterial genes and stone matrix proteins facilitate stone development, which current treatments have failed to address since the 1960s.

The project consists of two primary research aims that will produce novel findings on kidney stone pathophysiology. Aim 1 will measure and characterize how stone matrix proteins and stone-associated bacteria interact to promote stone formation, while Aim 2 will identify and validate biofilm-related genes in stone-associated bacteria through genomics and transcriptomics analyses. This research is expected to generate new therapeutic targets and innovative treatment approaches that specifically target bacterial genes and mechanisms to prevent and treat kidney stones, representing a significant advancement over existing prevention-focused interventions.