George M. O'Brien Kidney Research Center
About the Center
The National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has funded an O'Brien Kidney Research Center at The University of Iowa for the past 10 years. The present Center is a program with the general theme of identifying the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of the epithelial Na channel (ENaC). The rationale for this effort is to broaden the scientific framework from which the mechanisms of salt-sensitive hypertension can be explored. The grant funds three regular projects, a small administrative core, and pilot and feasibility studies. The themes of regular projects converge on aspects of ENaC regulation. Investigators for these three projects are Drs. John Stokes, Peter Snyder, and Baoli Yang. Two or three pilot and feasibility projects have been funded each year with good success in obtaining funding from these initial efforts.
NIDDK has decided that the nature of the O'Brien Kidney Research Centers will change from project-based centers to Core Centers. Such Centers will require support for core activities that already have support from external sources. The planning for the renewal of this Center is underway and will include support for core facilities such as:
- Microscopy Core
- Gene Targeting Core
- Vector Core
- Clinical/Translational Core
Pilot and feasibility studies will be an essential component of the new Center proposal and will involve an expanded program of research into basic and applied aspects of kidney disease, hypertension and cell biology.
Contact Information
John Stokes, M.D.
Director
john-stokes@uiowa.edu