# Protection of donor kidney and transplanted graft function by modulating Na/K ATPase activity

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · 2024 · $664,995

## Abstract

Kidney transplantation is a life-saving procedure for patients with end-stage kidney disease, however, organ
shortage is a global crisis.
We have developed a novel technique, named improved Synchronization Modulation Electric Field (i-SMEF).
The i-SMEF not only controls the Na/K pump activity, but also generates ATP molecules. In a recent publication,
we demonstrated that application of the i-SMEF on donor kidneys effectively protected transplanted graft
functions in a mouse kidney transplantation model. However, it is unknown if the i-SMEF could repair the injured
cells during ischemia, thereby exhibiting more protective effects on marginal organs.
 In the present proposal, we will examine the role of the i-SMEF in a protection against ischemic injury in
cultured cells, isolated kidneys, and kidney transplantation models in rats and pigs. We propose to test our
hypothesis that the i-SMEF rescues and repairs the injured cells in marginal organs during storage and exhibits
more protective effects than in standard criteria donor kidneys via delaying ATP depletion, preserving
mitochondrial function, preventing Na/K pump translocation, and reducing the inflammatory response.
 We believe that the novel concept that the i-SMEF controls renal Na/K pump activities and repairs injured
kidney cells during storage would update and advance our understanding of the regulation and significance of
the renal Na/K pump activity in ischemia. Its applications in kidney transplantation are expected to have imminent
translational significance in expanding the donor pool and improving the long-term survival of transplanted grafts.
Moreover, the i-SMEF is expected to exhibit important protective effects against acute kidney injury in vascular
and kidney surgeries that may compromise renal blood supply.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10780813
- **Project number:** 1R01DK138092-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Jacentha Lynn Buggs
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $664,995
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-01 → 2029-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10780813

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10780813, Protection of donor kidney and transplanted graft function by modulating Na/K ATPase activity (1R01DK138092-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-31 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10780813. Licensed CC0.

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