# Multimodal Imaging Mass Spectrometry and Spatial Omics for the Human Kidney

> **NIH NIH U01** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $729,455

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: The mission of the proposed Kidney Precision Medicine Project Tissue Interrogation
Site (TIS) is to apply a platform of integrated multiomic imaging and spatially resolved molecular technologies to
biopsies from patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) to define key pathways
and understand the molecular drivers of disease heterogeneity. This TIS will leverage the unique resources of
the Mass Spectrometry Research Center and VU Biomolecular Imaging Center, as well as the world-class clinical
environment of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the valuable input of our patient partner, and the
advanced biocomputational infrastructure available through the data analysis laboratories at Vanderbilt
University and the Delft University of Technology. The main objectives of our TIS are to: (1) generate high quality
images of kidney biopsies using an innovative state-of-the-art multimodal imaging pipeline that includes matrix-
assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (IMS), autofluorescence, and stained
microscopy; (2) acquire spatially resolved proteomics and transcriptomics data using microLESA, laser capture
microdissection, and the GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler as well as perform network and enrichment analysis to
validate and enhance biological interpretation of the imaging data; and (3) implement advanced data analysis
strategies to identify potential biomarkers and optimal points of therapeutic intervention. With this suite of
technologies, data analysis capabilities, and previous experience developing atlases of healthy-for-age human
kidney tissue, we will create kidney tissue atlases to define the molecular landscape of biopsies from various
patient populations (e.g., age, race, sex) as well as of AKI and CKD clinical phenotypes, disease states, and
transitions; with an eye toward determining potential disease subclasses. To accomplish these aims, we
assembled a highly interactive and established team of investigators consisting of complementary expertise in
nephrology, cell biology, analytical chemistry, and data science.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10892657
- **Project number:** 5U01DK133766-03
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeffrey M Spraggins
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $729,455
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-15 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10892657

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10892657, Multimodal Imaging Mass Spectrometry and Spatial Omics for the Human Kidney (5U01DK133766-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10892657. Licensed CC0.

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