Jenny Widén
Complex disease
Impaired kidney function is a strong risk factor for increased morbidity and premature death. Most people are unaware that they have kidney disease or impaired kidney function, even though both high blood pressure and diabetes significantly increase the risk of kidney damage.
Challenges and Opportunities in Kidney Research
Triggering events for acquired immune-mediated inflammatory kidney diseases can include infections in genetically predisposed individuals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was discovered that this viral infection increases the risk of kidney damage and impaired function. However, the mechanisms behind this remain insufficiently researched.
The treatments available today primarily focus on better control of blood pressure and diabetes in risk groups, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs, such as glucocorticoids, for immune-mediated kidney diseases. The latter are associated with many side effects and are not always effective. As a result, kidney research at LiU aims to find new, more effective, and more specific treatments.
The Need for Stronger Investment in Kidney Research
CKD and its underlying causes are complex diseases with a lack of clinical studies. Compared with cancer, funding for kidney disease research is significantly lower. It was recently shown that approximately $960 is allocated to research per cancer patient, as compared to about $18 invested in studying patients with kidney disease.