| Project Detail |
Insight into immune causes of kidney disease Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a kidney disease characterised by scarring in the kidney’s filtering units, called glomeruli. This condition can lead to nephrotic syndrome, which involves symptoms such as excess protein in the urine, swelling and low protein levels in the blood. Despite the emphasis on general risk factors like diabetes and hypertension, the specific causes of FSGS remain poorly understood, hindering the development of targeted therapies. The ERC-funded CureFSGS project aims to advance our understanding of immune-mediated causes of FSGS through a molecular classification approach. The research team will decode the immune mediators involved in the disease, aiming to target specific immune cells and injury pathways for enhanced treatment. Kidney diseases are a worldwide rising major health problem associated with an excess risk for cardiovascular disease and reduced life expectancy. While general risk factors for kidney diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are being addressed through numerous research efforts, causes of specific glomerular kidney diseases, especially Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), remain poorly understood. FSGS is the most common glomerular cause of end stage renal disease characterized by scaring of the glomerular kidney filters and podocytes loss. Until now, the development of specific therapies has been hindered by the poor stratification of FSGS entities and the lack of understanding of immune mediated forms of FSGS. CureFSGS will establish a new strategy to identify key factors in FSGS: First, CureFSGS will develop a molecular classification of FSGS entities by utilizing a worldwide unique kidney sample repository/ registry combined with a novel analysis pipeline of single cell analytics, multiplex imaging and machine learning-aided image analysis to guide clinical decision making and to provide novel molecular insights. Second, CureFSGS will precisely decode immune mediators of FSGS and systematically map the podocyte response towards immune actions by devising a novel complementary platform of immune cell analytics and podocyte in vitro, ex vivo perfused kidney, in vivo as well as human organoid systems. |
