# Biomarker Effectiveness Analysis in Contrast Nephropathy (BEACON)

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $268,554

## Abstract

ABSTRACT – THE BIOMARKER EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS IN CONTRAST NEPHROPATHY
Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI) is a serious complication occurring in patients with chronic kidney
disease undergoing angiography and is associated with adverse renal and cardiovascular outcomes. We will
address two key questions that remain in high-risk patients undergoing angiography. First, early detection of
CIAKI after contrast exposure is problematic because rise in serum creatinine or decline in urine output occur
over several days and many cases are under-diagnosed. Second, early risk stratification for long-term adverse
events is also problematic because existing risk prediction models only have a modest predictive value.
Availability of a biomarker that detects subclinical CIAKI before creatinine and also aids in risk stratification will
change primary and secondary prevention strategies. The FDA has recently approved two novel, highly
sensitive, urinary cell cycle arrest biomarkers for early detection of AKI. We have shown that these biomarkers:
tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 and insulin growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)7, detect AKI
before serum creatinine in critically ill patients and are associated with long-term adverse outcomes. Whether
these markers can be used to predict renal and cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing angiography
is yet unknown. We have been recently funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a multicenter,
randomized, clinical trial in 7,680 high-risk patients undergoing angiography to compare the effectiveness of
intravenous sodium bicarbonate with isotonic sodium chloride, and oral N- acetylcysteine with placebo, for the
prevention of serious adverse outcomes associated with CIAKI. The NIDDK has funded an associated
biorepository to examine known and yet-to-be identified biomarkers for CIAKI. We propose to leverage these
resources to conduct an ancillary observational study entitled Biomarker Effectiveness Analysis in Contrast
Nephropathy (BEACON). Using urine and plasma samples obtained before and at four hours after angiography
in 2000 subjects, we will address two specific aims. Aim 1 will examine the accuracy of urinary TIMP-2,
IGFBP7, and select other plasma biomarkers in predicting the composite renal outcome of death, dialysis
dependence, or persistent renal injury at day 90 after contrast exposure (Aim 1a); biomarker reclassification of
risk for adverse renal outcomes and develop a risk score (Aim 1b); and predicting the progression of chronic
kidney disease (Aim 1c). Aim 2 will examine the accuracy of urinary TIMP-2 and IGFBP7 in predicting the
composite outcome of hospitalization with acute coronary syndrome; heart failure; cerebrovascular accident; or
all-cause mortality within 90 days (Aim 2a); and biomarker reclassification of risk for cardiovascular events
(Aim 2b). The proposed work will advance NIDDK’s mission of early detection, risk-stratification, and
prognosticat...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9964778
- **Project number:** 5R01DK106256-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Raghavan Murugan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $268,554
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-20 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9964778

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9964778, Biomarker Effectiveness Analysis in Contrast Nephropathy (BEACON) (5R01DK106256-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9964778. Licensed CC0.

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