Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) awarded $694,934 to the Regents of the University of Minnesota on May 15, 2026, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847). This project grant, scheduled for completion on March 31, 2031, funds basic biomedical research investigating the modulation of interoception by TRPV1-expressing renal afferent nerves. The research addresses critical gaps in understanding how kidney-innervating primary afferent neurons communicate with the central nervous system to regulate blood pressure and related physiological functions.

The research program delivers scientific outputs through two primary objectives: First, defining how TRPV1-positive afferent renal nerves modulate central interoceptive circuits under normal conditions and during hypertension by conducting global analysis of central nervous system neuronal activation using transgenic mouse models, fluorescent in situ hybridization techniques, and viral vector tracing methodologies. Second, the project establishes the functional diversity of these nerve subtypes and their impact on central interoceptive network regulation. These research findings are intended to advance understanding of the mechanisms underlying hypertension and potentially inform clinical applications for catheter-based renal denervation therapies, contributing to improved prevention and treatment approaches for kidney-related metabolic disorders.