Kids Kidney Research

The kidney has many specialised cells living in a complex extracellular environment. Within the glomerular filters, two cell types lie on either side of a basement membrane. This membrane acts as a scaffold to support the cells and also has a role in filtration. The glomerular cells produce the proteins, which make up the membrane, however we do not fully understand how this process is regulated or altered in disease.  This study we will use proteomics, a powerful new technique to identify the components of the extracellular environment. We will build networks of interacting proteins and compare these networks in health and disease states. This study has great potential to find new targets, which could help to develop treatment for children and adults with glomerular disease.