E-CADHERIN AS A KEY MOLECULE IN RENAL EPITHELIAL-MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION AND FIBROSIS

Funded Activity Summary

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of death and disability in the Australian population. Current treatments for CKD are non-specific and frequently ineffective. As a consequence, kidney failure progresses to the stage where patients require dialysis or transplantation to remain alive. Every year more than 1700 Australians require kidney replacement therapy for this reason and many more die of kidney failure or its complications. Kidney fibrosis is the final common result of diverse CKD. This project proposes to investigate EMT, a key event in the development of renal fibrosis, whereby kidney cells are converted to fibrogenic cells. The project focuses on matrix enzymes (metalloproteinases) and E-cadherin (a molecule which is involved in adherence of kidney cells to one another, but which we think may actually be involved in the causation of EMT). This focus is novel, and could provide new understanding about the process of EMT in renal fibrosis, knowledge relevant to all diseases characterised by eventual loss of organ function due to fibrosis. It will identify new targets for therapy aimed at preventing fibrotic diseases of all types.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2007

End Date: 01-01-2008

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $318,267.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Nephrology and Urology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

chronic kidney disease | e-cadherin | epithelial-mesenchymal transition | fibrosis | metalloproteinase | tubular cell

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