Up to 50% of people with diabetes develop diabetic kidney disease, which may progress to end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis or kidney transplant. This lowers the quality of life and increases mortality. Current medications in use can't stop the development and progression of diabetic kidney disease. Insulin resistance (inability of cells to respond to insulin) is a central risk factor for diabetic kidney disease. We have created a library of small compounds, which sensitize muscle cells to insulin and enhance glucose uptake, and also protect kidney cells from death in cell culture. The aim of our project is to study whether the compounds lower insulin resistance and improve kidney function in a diabetic mouse model. In future, the compounds can be utilized to design new insulin sensitizing and blood glucose lowering medications, which prevent the development of diabetic kidney disease.

2025

2026