NIH Awarded $2.3 Million to Sanford Research Lab
The grant supports a new study on kidney cell remodeling and electrolyte balance in Sioux Falls.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Life Sciences
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The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $2,314,660 R01 grant to Kamesh Surendran at Sanford Research. The funding will support a study investigating how kidney cell types switch roles to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.
Why it matters
Researchers aim to uncover the molecular mechanisms that drive the conversion of principal kidney cells into intercalated cells. Understanding this process may provide critical new insights into the causes of acquired nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
The study utilizes a $2,314,660 R01 grant to analyze the molecular machinery that enables principal kidney cells to convert into intercalated cells. This research focuses on the pathways that disrupt fluid and electrolyte balance.
The players
Kamesh Surendran
He is a researcher and laboratory leader at Sanford Research who specializes in the study of kidney biology.
National Institutes of Health
This is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research.
Sanford Research
This is a non-profit research organization based in Sioux Falls that conducts extensive studies across various life science disciplines.
The details
Kamesh Surendran leads a laboratory in Sioux Falls that will investigate why these kidney cell types switch roles. By identifying the molecular drivers of this conversion, the team hopes to better understand disease progression.
Timeline
The grant award was officially announced on October 6, 2026.
The Big Picture
This grant follows the established patterns and priorities set by the National Institutes of Health R01 grant program for supporting foundational biomedical research. The study marks a significant step forward in mapping the molecular plasticity of kidney tissues.
This research could eventually lead to new therapeutic targets for patients suffering from nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Future findings may bridge the gap between basic cellular biology and clinical treatment options for fluid regulation disorders.
The takeaway
This funding underscores the ongoing effort to map the complex cellular transformations occurring within human organs. Residents of Sioux Falls can view this as a commitment to advancing medical science that could eventually impact global healthcare outcomes.
Further reading
Learn more about local scientific developments in the Life Sciences section.
More information
For more details on the laboratory's ongoing initiatives, visit the Sanford Research information portal.
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