# National Coordinating Center (NCC) for the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Research and Translation Core Centers

> **NIH NIH U24** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2021 · $49,323

## Abstract

Project Summary
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is the most common inherited cause of renal failure worldwide. The genes
responsible for the most frequent forms of PKD (PKD1, PKD2 and PKHD1) were identified over the past two
decades. Progress over these years has led to improved tools for studying cyst formation and progression and
these in turn have resulted in an improved understanding of PKD pathophysiology and, most recently, an
approved therapy. Despite these advances, however, there is no intervention to halt cystic kidney disease or
its systemic manifestations and there remains a pressing need for more effective treatments. In order to
promote interdisciplinary and integrated approaches to the identification of novel therapeutic targets, an RFA
has been issued to support PKD Research and Translation Core Centers (RTCCs) whose mission will be to
develop innovative research tools. Here we establish a new National Coordinating Center (NCC) to provide
highly organized administrative support to the RTCCs. We will implement a bold, innovative and outward-
facing program that will facilitate collaboration and cohesion between the RTCCs and establish mechanisms
for sharing of reagents and expertise broadly. The National Coordinating Center will seek to invigorate and
energize research in PKD by supporting and expanding the community of PKD investigators, by promoting
data driven science and by developing educational activities that encourage open and critical thinking and
attract the brightest new talent to the study of PKD. Leadership of the National Coordinating Center will be
provided by two investigators with an in-depth understanding of the PKD field and a deep belief in the
importance of collaborative science. The NCC will support the goals of the PKD Research Consortium with the
following Aims: 1) Convene the PKD Research Consortium Steering Committee to develop the program’s
overall direction, to organize and execute program activities and to assist with broad dissemination of
information 2) Develop a multipronged communication plan including an accessible web site for disseminating
information about research resources 3) Facilitate collaboration between RTCCs by establishing a framework
for joint development of resources 4) Facilitate broad sharing of resources across the consortium 5) Develop
an educational program, including an annual scientific symposium that will encourage constructive discourse
and diverse and creative approaches to PKD science. 6) Develop, support and execute a pilot and feasibility
program that encourages new investigators (both early stage and established) to enter the field of PKD
research. 7) Provide educational programming geared toward early stage investigators to foster the
development of a new cohort of PKD researchers and leaders. In summary, the collaborative environment
fostered by the NCC will catalyze advances that we expect will result in new insights into PKD pathobiology
and new therapeutic options f...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10462014
- **Project number:** 3U24DK126110-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** Terry J Watnick
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $49,323
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-07-20 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10462014

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10462014, National Coordinating Center (NCC) for the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Research and Translation Core Centers (3U24DK126110-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10462014. Licensed CC0.

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