Kidney disease research given funding boost

Researchers have been awarded over £130K of funding from Kidney Research UK to undertake research into mutations in a protein that will help them understand how symptoms of kidney disease develop. University scientists have found that mutations in a particular protein called Col4a1 that is present in the kidney cause kidney disease which can lead to reduced kidney function and the presence of blood and protein in urine, a risk factor for chronic kidney and cardiovascular disease. Mp4 While patients who have mutations in these proteins are rare, they can suffer from reduced kidney function and the presence of blood and protein in urine. The project will investigate whether this disease becomes more severe with age and what causes the disease to develop. Tom Van Agtmael, Institute of Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences said "Investigating the progression of the disease with increasing age will afford insight into the long-term outcome of patients with these mutations. In addition, determining how these diseases develop is important as increased knowledge of these pathways can lead in the long term to novel treatments. While our focus is on a rare type of kidney disease, identifying the mechanism of these rare forms may also increase our knowledge of the development of these diseases in the general population." Professor Tim Goodship, Chairman of Kidney Research UK, said: "With three million people in the UK at risk from kidney disease and a further 50,000 needing treatment for kidney failure each year, it's vital we continue to undertake research which furthers our understanding of this life-threatening illness.