A scientist at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is leading research to make kidney transplants easier and more survivable for patients.
Dr. Nirmala Parajuli, a scientist at ACRI and an assistant professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the UAMS College of Medicine, received a $300,000 grant from the American Heart Association (AHA) to study a protein that has been identified as pivotal in improving outcomes of transplant patients who receive kidneys kept in cold storage before transplant.
Through the three-year study, Parajuli and her team hope to identify the underlying mechanisms of renal damage related to cold storage of the organs. They aim to develop targeted therapies for cold storage of kidneys, decreasing poor transplant outcomes including the incidence of transplant-associated cardiovascular disease, a significant interest of the AHA and the leading cause of death in patients with end-stage kidney disease.
“We are excited to explore how we can make kidney transplants safer by adopting targeted therapies to be used when the organs are placed in cold storage,” Parajuli said. “We see this as an opportunity to create a healthier tomorrow for patients with kidney disease and are grateful for the American Heart Association’s support.”
Parajuli receives support from ACRI’s Center for Translational Pediatric Research (P20GM121293), which provides her research program with technical infrastructure and scientific guidance, and the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, the major research component of the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act of 2000.