# Kidney development: Cell fate and precursors of disease in the young and adult

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2021 · $852,720

## Abstract

The overall objective of this “Center of Excellence in Pediatric Nephrology” is to provide a coordinated,
interdisciplinary, and inter-institutional approach to study the development of the kidney during embryonic, fetal
and postnatal life. The main theme of this Research Center is “Kidney Development and Disease: Cell Fate
and Precursors of Disease in the Young and Adult." Broadly, the proposed research deals with fundamental
questions of clinical relevance in Pediatric Nephrology such as the understanding of kidney morphogenesis
and homeostasis in health and disease. The experimental approaches range from examination of epigenetic
mechanisms that control cell fate, plasticity, and identity and the cellular signals underlying the phenotypic
transformation that occurs during kidney injury and repair. Project 1 will investigate the role of RBP-J in Cell
fate of the Kidney Vasculature (Ariel Gomez, UVA). Project 2 will examine the epigenetic control of nephron
progenitor cell lifespan (Samir El-Dahr, Tulane). Project 3 will explore the regenerative capacity of the kidney
after ureteral obstruction and release (Maria Luisa Sequeira Lopez, UVA). Pilot and feasibility projects (PFP)
within the general theme of the program will be solicited from the Universities at large, the ASPN, the ASN
and adult nephrology programs with the objective to add new talent to the investigation of renal diseases
in children. Examples of PFPs include: Pilot 1: Fate and function of peri-ureteric bud pericytes, and capillary
development of the developing renal medulla (Jing Yu, UVA), Pilot 2 addresses the role of pannexins in the
control of Blood pressure and fluid electrolyte homeostasis (Brant Isakson, UVA. Two cutting-edge Cores in
Single Cell Genomics and Mass Cytometry, and Bioinformatics will add scientific and technical expertise to
individual laboratories within and outside the Center. The Center will be supported by an Administrative Core
which will allocate and distribute resources to Center participants, implement the procedures for soliciting and
selecting candidates for the PFP, maintain a Center Website and an Enrichment/Educational program t o
provide resources for support of research students, the development of repository data, workshops,
seminars and symposia to enhance research in kidney development and disease. This Pediatric Center of
Excellence in Nephrology has the necessary expertise, manpower, focus, commitment, and institutional
support to accomplish the proposed goals. It is anticipated that the Center of Excellence will lead to
improved management of infants and children with renal and urological diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10241335
- **Project number:** 5P50DK096373-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERTO Ariel GOMEZ
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $852,720
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10241335

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10241335, Kidney development: Cell fate and precursors of disease in the young and adult (5P50DK096373-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10241335. Licensed CC0.

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