Advancing early detection for kidney disease in sickle cell
Kidney disease is a leading cause of mortality in sickle cell disease, underscoring the urgent need for earlier and more precise diagnostics.
A new multi-institutional study, supported by a grant from the Commonwealth Health Research Board, brings together Children’s National Hospital, George Mason University and Old Dominion University to advance a novel, non-invasive approach to kidney disease detection in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Leveraging the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Program at Children’s National, one of the largest in the nation and among the few offering gene therapy, the research integrates longitudinal patient data with advanced proteomic analysis.
Addressing a critical clinical need
Kidney disease is a leading cause of mortality in SCD, underscoring the urgent need for earlier and more precise diagnostics.
“We’ve watched as silent kidney damage progresses year after year, often going undetected until significant harm has occurred,” said Andrew Campbell, MD, director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Program at Children’s National and co-investigator of the study. “By identifying kidney disease earlier, we can intervene sooner with more effective disease-modifying therapies and curative treatments, potentially preventing or slowing progression to kidney failure.”
From discovery to impact
“We measure damaged mitochondria shed by the kidney in a few milliliters of urine so we can develop an early warning system for the onset of kidney damage,” said Marissa Howard, PhD, systems biologist and research fellow at George Mason University and principal investigator of the study. “Our partners at Children’s National are known for identifying innovative approaches to treat SCD. This exciting collaboration is collectively motivated by our ultimate goal of reducing the high mortality rate caused by Sickle Cell kidney failure in children affected by this disease.”
By translating cutting-edge science into clinical impact, Children’s National continues to advance next-generation diagnostics that improve outcomes for children with SCD and may extend to other diseases linked to mitochondrial dysfunction.
