TARGETED KIDNEY THERAPY

In 2020, first place in the "Experimental Research" research prize of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI), endowed with 4,000 euros, went to an international and interdisciplinary research team led by Dr. Christian Nußhag, Heidelberg Kidney Center at Heidelberg University Hospital. With the support of Prof. Dr. med. Martin Zeier and Prof. Dr. med. Christian Morath (Heidelberg Renal Center at Heidelberg University Hospital), Prof. Dr. med. Markus Weigand (Department of Anaesthesiology at Heidelberg University Hospital), Prof. Dr. med. Thorsten Brenner (Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at Essen University Hospital) and Prof. Dr. med. Jochen Reiser (Internal Medicine, Rush University Chicago), the young researcher has tested a new biomarker that can be used to better predict the course of acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by blood poisoning (sepsis). It could also provide targets for kidney-targeted therapy. "To date, there is no causal therapy for AKI, one of the most common complications in critically ill patients. The research work of Dr. Christian Nußhag provides important new insights here and we are pleased to be able to continue to support his research," said DIVI President Prof. Dr. med. Uwe Janssens at the award ceremony during the online annual congress DIVI20 virtual of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI).

The most common trigger for AKI is blood poisoning (sepsis). Until now, it has been possible to treat sepsis, but not the disorders in the kidneys, and the exact pathophysiology has not been conclusively clarified. In addition, there has been no good bio-marker to date that allows reliable prognoses for kidney function after initiation of sepsis therapy. Against this background, Dr. Christian Nußhag has been testing a new prognostic biomarker, the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), for the past three and a half years - with promising results: "We have found that this marker indicates very early on whether the therapy is working. The question of whether a patient needs dialysis or not can therefore be answered at an early stage," explains Dr. Nußhag.

Possible starting points for initial kidney-directed therapy
Whether suPAR is also involved in the pathophysiology of septic AKI was investigated using mouse models. Dr. Nußhag and his team found evidence that this appears to be the case. "We are currently taking a closer look at the exact mode of action - both immunologically and metabolically. If the evidence is confirmed, we will have a basis for the first ever kidney-targeted therapy," says the researcher.

About the DIVI-Research Prize
The DIVI Research Prize, also known as the poster competition, is awarded annually as part of the DIVI Congress. As a scientific society, the DIVI would like to give methodological discussion a higher priority. The four best abstracts from the fields of clinical and experimental medicine are evaluated and selected by a jury of experts before the congress. The two winners will receive 4,000 euros, the runners-up 2,000 euros and places 3 and 4 1,000 euros each.