Researchers
The diagnosis and treatment of Alport syndrome has improved in the last decade. However, more progress is urgently needed.
On this page:
Hub projects
- Preclinical testing of potential therapies: Working with external collaborators to test new therapies for Alport syndrome in our range of experimental systems.
- Matrix biomarkers in Alport mice and patients: Aiming to improve the biomarkers we use for monitoring the progression of kidney disease in Alport syndrome.
- Human kidney organoids: How do the kidney filters form? Using human kidney organoids to understand how matrix proteins like collagen help to form the blood filters in the kidney.
Hub collaborator projects
New projects are funded by an annual application round, peer reviewed through Kidney Research UK.
Renal glycosaminoglycans in Alport syndrome and pregnancy
Arkill lab (University of Nottingham)
Background
Proteinuria is the presence of amount of protein, typically albumin, in the urine. When a healthy individual is pregnant their proteinuria typically doubles. However, in an Alport syndrome patient this can increase ten-fold. There remains limited understanding of why this exacerbated change occurs and how it impacts renal function long term.
Project aims
This project aims to explore the potential role of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in this time specific change in proteinuria. GAGs are linear carbohydrate chains that are known modulators of vascular filtration and have been implemented in a range of diseases including diabetes and sepsis, both of which also present clinically with proteinuria.
Understanding how GAGs are altered in Alport syndrome and during pregnancy may provide critical insights into disease progression and opportunities for earlier diagnosis and targeted intervention.
Techniques
The project will utilise new imaging technique – 3D Orbi-SIMS which has been developed for GAG analysis by the project’s postdoctoral researcher Dr Lorna Milne during their PhD. The imaging mass spectrometry method enables high spatial resolution imaging and high mass resolution compositional analysis, overcoming many limitations of conventional laboratory techniques for analysing GAGs such as antibody tagging.
Impact
Through analysis of GAGs in individual glomeruli, the project aims to characterize molecular alterations in the glomerular filtration barrier during Alport syndrome and pregnancy including human bio-banked samples. The study will provide foundation understanding to inform alternative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Alport hearing loss research project – Jagger lab (UCL)
Project aims
This collaborative project aims towards a better understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie hearing loss in Alport syndrome.
We do not really know why hearing loss in Alport syndrome arises. Without that detailed information we cannot begin to design therapies that can slow or prevent hearing loss.
A more detailed picture of the time-course of degeneration will allow us to identify an optimum therapeutic “window of opportunity”. Identification of the specific cell types involved in collagen production and secretion means we will know which to target in future genetic therapies.
Background
The need for this study and our primary aims have been shaped by our conversations with patients over a number of years. Both at Alport Syndrome Alliance workshops and Alport UK patient information days.
One consistent concern is a perceived scientific/clinical neglect of the hearing component of the disease relative to the kidney problems. Some Alport patients have the deafness element of the syndrome but show no signs of kidney disease.
Impact
Several patients have commented, in common with other deaf people, that despite using hearing aids their quality of life remains seriously impacted. Hearing aids are not a cure-all for their deafness, and they strongly hope for additional therapeutic intervention to improve their hearing performance.
Funding for researchers
We welcome applications for a research project related to Alport syndrome for up to £250k over a maximum of three years.
What we look for
- You have an interest in Alport syndrome, affecting kidneys, hearing or sight.
- Your research will have the potential to help our understanding and transform the outcomes for Alport patients.
- You may already be planning or doing research into Alport syndrome or your research may support and be translatable to Alport Syndrome.
If any of these apply to you, we want to hear from you.
Your idea may be the next research project to align with the UK Hub. Your research would be funded as the next exciting project and led by you, from your institution whilst being collaboratively linked with the UK hub.
Application dates
Dates for the 2025 round will appear here.
How to apply
All applicants must be resident in the United Kingdom and the research must be led from a UK establishment. However, we strongly encourage international collaboration.
If you are interested in setting up a new project, please contact:
Rachel Lennon
Email: rachel.lennon@manchester.ac.uk
How we assess submissions
All submissions to this call will be subject to expert review involving members of our Research Grants Committee and Lay Advisory Group and both scientific and lay external reviewers.
Patient voice
The patient voice is at the centre of everything at Kidney Research UK and Alport UK. Patients are members on the strategic advisory board for the Stoneygate and Kidney Research UK Alport Research Hub and will be involved in all decision making for future hub projects.
If you are designing a study and would like help with patient input, or if you are a patient who would like to get involved in research, please visit Kidney Research UK email patients@kidneyresearchuk.org.
Further information
If you have any questions or would like further information please contact:
Elaine Davies
Tel: 01733 367835
Email: elainedavies@kidneyresearchuk.org
Contact Us
+44 (0) 161 306 6000
