# Iron and renal fibrosis in juvenile chronic kidney disease

> **NIH NIH K08** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2021 · $166,320

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 This is an application for a K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award for Dr.
Oleh Akchurin, a pediatric nephrologist at Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY. Dr. Akchurin is
establishing himself as a young investigator and translational researcher in the field of pediatric chronic kidney
disease (CKD). This award will provide him with the support necessary to accomplish the following goals: (1) to
become an expert in translational research of juvenile CKD, with a focus on altered iron metabolism; (2) to
conduct experimental investigations of the effects of iron therapy for renal anemia in juvenile CKD on renal
fibrosis, as mediated by changes in autophagy; (3) to implement advanced laboratory techniques in these
studies; (4) to advance skills in interpreting and analyzing scientific data; and (5) to develop an independent
research career. To achieve these goals, Dr. Akchurin has assembled a team of accomplished investigators: his
primary mentor Dr. Mary E. Choi, a nephrologist with expertise in renal fibrosis and autophagy; co-mentor Dr.
Stefano Rivella, an expert in iron metabolism; and consultants Dr. Surya Seshan, a world-renowned renal
pathologist, and Dr. Xuejun Jiang, an expert in iron-dependent autophagy and programmed cell death pathways,
as well as members of his Advisory Committee.
 Although iron therapy is very common in children with CKD and the detrimental action of iron has been
well established in acute kidney injury, the role of altered iron metabolism and iron therapy in renal fibrosis in the
sphere of juvenile CKD remains unknown. Similarly, while we understand that iron's pro-oxidative activity has
the potential to damage intracellular macromolecules which need to be recycled by autophagy, the role of iron
in modulating pro-survival autophagic activity in renal fibrosis has not been examined. Recent studies by Dr.
Akchurin strongly support the hypothesis that oral iron given at current therapeutic levels causes kidney iron
accumulation and exacerbates renal fibrosis in juvenile CKD, as mediated in part by altered renal autophagy.
During the period of this award, he will test this hypothesis using an adenine-based mouse model of juvenile
CKD. In addition, Dr. Akchurin will investigate the mechanism of his findings, specifically targeting the role of
autophagy in iron-mediated aggravation of renal fibrosis, as identified in his preliminary studies. This research
will form the basis for identification of relevant molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of iron on renal
fibrosis in juvenile CKD, and inform novel therapeutic targets, which will be proposed in an R01 grant application
before the end of the K08 award.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10224883
- **Project number:** 5K08DK114558-04
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Oleh Akchurin
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $166,320
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10224883

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10224883, Iron and renal fibrosis in juvenile chronic kidney disease (5K08DK114558-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10224883. Licensed CC0.

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