Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center received a $620,185 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 April 20, 2026, with completion anticipated by February 28, 2031. The grant funds basic biomedical research aimed at advancing understanding of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a genetic kidney disorder affecting over 12 million people worldwide. The research deliverables focus on defining the molecular function of polycystin 1 (PKD1) as a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and characterizing its activation mechanisms in kidney cystogenesis, with particular emphasis on identifying Wnt proteins as activating ligands and elucidating the PKD1/PKD2 complex signaling pathways.

The research outputs include scientific investigations utilizing advanced techniques such as super-resolution live cell imaging and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer-based biosensors to characterize PKD1 interactions with heterotrimeric G protein subsets and their role in cAMP regulation. Additionally, the award supports analysis of naturally occurring mutations in PKD1 and PKD2 to understand how these genetic variations impair cellular surface expression and protein complex assembly, thereby contributing to disease pathogenesis. This research is intended to generate foundational knowledge that may facilitate development of novel therapeutic approaches for ADPKD and other related kidney disease mechanisms.