Research Awards Recipients

Lay Summary
Patients with chronic kidney failure often develop heart problems and are prone to stroke. This is caused by blood vessel stiffening in these patients, often the result of calcium deposition in blood vessels. Unfortunately, little is known about mechanisms involved in the development and progression of calcium deposition and blood vessel calcification.
 
Our research has identified an essential factor involved in responses to low oxygen (hypoxia), known as hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), as an important component for blood vessel calcification. Our research also indicates that HIF-1 plays a central role in calcification by translating different signals associated with cell stress. Roxadustat, an experimental drug used to treat anemia in patients with kidney failure is a potent activator of HIF-1. Therefore, it may cause important side effects on patients by causing arterial calcification.
 
The goal of Dr. Richard’s proposal is to gain in-depth insights into this unexplored role of HIF-1 in kidney disease and vascular calcification and to determine the effect of Roxadustat in this context. Researchers believe that understanding this important process will identify an important, and potentially detrimental, consequence of Roxadustat treatment, and will support the development of safer and more effective treatments to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in this population.