One in 15,000 children suffer from kidney disease caused by inherited gene variations. For more than half of these patients, the specific genetic change responsible for the condition can be detected. While this is already an achievement, effective treatments have yet to be identified. Our research aims at improving the knowledge of genetic kidney diseases to find novel therapies which would prevent or delay the need for dialysis or transplantation.
reNEW research
Our research uses models of the kidney generated from stem cells derived from patients with genetic kidney disease. Studying these mini-organs enables a better understanding of how and why children suffer from specific inherited kidney disorders. We then screen large numbers of drugs or gene therapies looking to fix the particular problem our research has identified in the cells. This may one day translate into novel therapies.
Image description
Derived from stem cells, pink glomeruli are the kidney filtration units. Note how the blue tubules are wrapped around them.
Credits
Dr Aude Dorison, Associate Investigator, Little lab, reNEW Melbourne.
