Toledo, Ohio – The University of Toledo has secured more than $1 million in new federal funding to support research into several major health conditions that affect millions of Americans, including Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and diabetic kidney disease.
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur announced that the university will receive two separate grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to advance scientific research aimed at improving treatment options and expanding understanding of these widespread illnesses.
The first grant totals $339,900 and comes through the National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The funding will support research into the GSK3Beta enzyme, which researchers say plays an important role in speeding the progression of diabetes and kidney-related diseases.
A second grant totaling $736,899 has been awarded through the National Institute on Aging. That funding will help researchers study kinome networks and their connection to Alzheimer’s dementia, one of the most challenging neurological diseases affecting older Americans.
Combined, the two awards provide more than $1 million for research efforts at the university. The diseases targeted by the projects affect nearly one-third of the U.S. population and touch countless families in Northwest Ohio and across the nation.
Funding supports research into major health challenges
Congresswoman Kaptur praised the university’s work and highlighted the importance of continued investment in medical research.
“Those with Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and diabetic kidney diseases, as well as their family, friends, and loved ones, face many challenges,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “If preventative measures exist, we must equip our medical field with the necessary resources to advance research and further medical understanding. These Federal funding awards demonstrate the University of Toledo’s dedication and commitment to conducting research that advances medical understanding toward new treatments and cures. I am proud to help secure these resources for our R1 Research Institution at UToledo, which allows our Northwest Ohio region to shine as a beacon of innovation and hope.”
The diabetes and kidney disease research project will be led by Professor Gong Rujun, a physician, scientist, and kidney disease expert whose work focuses on understanding how kidney disorders develop and identifying new therapies to slow or prevent disease progression.
Researchers will examine the role of the GSK3Beta enzyme and how it contributes to diabetic kidney disease and other related conditions. Diabetic kidney disease remains one of the leading causes of kidney failure worldwide and continues to affect millions of patients.
“We are grateful for this support from the National Institutes of Health. Diabetic kidney disease remains one of the leading causes of kidney failure worldwide, affecting millions of patients and families,” said Professor Gong Rujun, Ph.D., M.D., F.A.S.N. “We are proud to conduct this important research at The University of Toledo and contribute to improving health in our region and beyond.”
Over the past several years, Gong has received multiple federal research awards and has built a strong reputation through scientific publications, medical discoveries, and patented innovations.
Alzheimer’s research aims to advance future treatments
The second federally funded project will focus on Alzheimer’s dementia, a disease that continues to affect millions of aging Americans and places significant emotional and financial burdens on families and caregivers.
The research effort will be led by Dr. Robert Smith, who serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry in the University of Toledo’s College of Medicine and Life Sciences.
His team will study how active kinome networks contribute to the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers hope their findings will help pave the way for future therapies and treatment strategies that could slow or prevent disease progression.
“Alzheimer’s dementia is one of the most significant challenges facing our aging population, impacting patients, caregivers, families, and communities,” said Robert Smith, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.N.P., Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. “Continued investment in biomedical research is essential to advancing scientific discovery and bringing hope to those affected by this devastating disease.”
The new grants add to the University of Toledo’s growing reputation as a major research institution. The university was recently recognized as an R1 institution, the highest research classification awarded under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Kaptur has long supported federal investments in research programs at the university. Supporters of the new grants say the funding will strengthen efforts to better understand diseases that impact millions of people while helping Northwest Ohio remain a center for medical innovation and scientific discovery.
