Biogem keeps to play a key international role in the field of kidney disease research thanks to its achievements. In the past weeks, a large delegation of researchers from the Institute, led by Scientific Director Professor Giovambattista Capasso, have been presenting the latest achievements of their research at important international nephrology events.
Professor Capasso attended the 41st Congress of the Czech Society of Nephrology, held in Prague from May 20th to 22nd, where he delivered the keynote lecture "The Forgotten Organ in CKD: The Brain," a topic that is currently one of Biogem's most innovative research lines.
Then, from June 3rd to 6th, researchers from the Translational Nephrology Laboratory participated at the European Renal Association (ERA) Congress, the most important annual European event dedicated to kidney disease, held this year in Glasgow. The meeting brought together over 12,000 specialists from around the world to discuss the latest innovations in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of kidney diseases.
Among the topics presented by Biogem, particular attention was paid to studies on the kidney-brain connection, a research area in which the Irpinia Institute is a leading international player. These Biogem research activities are supported by the Campania Region, through the P4P project, and by the European Commission, through the NutriBrain and Momentum projects.
Research activities have highlighted how chronic kidney disease can affect not only kidney function, but also brain health. In particular, the results obtained on a mouse model of chronic kidney disease, developed by Dr. De Ananya, a PhD student from India, suggest that early identification of any signs of cognitive decline allows for timely interventions, helping to slow the progression of the disorder and improve quality of life.
A chemical model of chronic kidney disease, developed by Dr. Iuliano, also a PhD student at Biogem, provided insight into the role of so-called uremic toxins, substances that tend to accumulate in the body when the kidneys fail. Behavioral studies conducted by Dr. de Donato on a mouse model indicate that these toxins may contribute to the development of neurological and cognitive alterations associated with chronic kidney disease.
Further studies, conducted by Dr. Iervolino on zebrafish models, have also shown that some of these substances can cause damage to both the kidneys and the nervous system. These findings contribute to clarifying the mechanisms linking kidney disease to neurological disorders and open new perspectives for the development of therapies capable of preventing cognitive decline in patients.
At the ERA Congress, Biogem also presented important results in the field of gene therapy for the treatment of rare hereditary kidney diseases. These are pathologies caused by genetic alterations that compromise the normal function of the organ. This field, still little explored internationally in relation to kidney diseases, is being developed at Biogem under the guidance of Dr. Iervolino in collaboration with Professor Francesco Trepiccione of the Vanvitelli University of Naples, Dr. Staiano of Tigem, and Professor Picard of the CNRS in Lyon. These studies are funded by the Campania Region through the Fanteg project and by the AFM Telethon.
At Biogem, new strategies are being studied to deliver therapeutic genes directly into kidney cells using specific biological vectors. The preliminary results presented by Dr. Miele during the conference confirm the feasibility of this approach and represent an important step towards future therapeutic applications, although further studies will be necessary to increase its efficacy.
In addition to basic research, Biogem also presented important clinical results at the ERA Conference, with the aim of improving the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of kidney diseases. These were conducted by Professor Miriam Zacchia and the brilliant Dr. Floriana Secondulfo, both of whom are affiliated with the Department of Nephrology at the Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania, which has long been associated with Biogem and represents the clinical counterpart of the Translational Nephrology Unit at the Irpinia Research Institute.
Among the studies presented, a new approach dedicated to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, one of the most common genetic kidney diseases, aroused particular interest. Today, analyzing the genetic alterations associated with this disease primarily allows us to determine whether a variant is harmful or not, but provides limited information on the possible progression of the disease in individual patients.
To overcome this limitation, researchers have developed an innovative computer algorithm capable of analyzing the effects of individual genetic mutations in greater depth. The system is able to identify which biological mechanisms are altered and, with a view to future treatment options, suggest possible targeted therapeutic strategies.
A second contribution concerned proximal tubular acidosis, a rare disease that compromises the kidney's ability to maintain the body's proper chemical balance. The study analyzed both hereditary forms and those caused by certain drugs, highlighting the difficulties that still characterize the diagnostic process.
Thanks to data collected from an international registry dedicated to rare kidney diseases, researchers have highlighted how diagnosis can be delayed many years, in some cases even more than twelve years after the onset of symptoms. The study also described the main complications associated with the disease, which can affect not only the kidney, but also the bones and eyes. The results represent an important step forward toward earlier diagnosis and improved clinical management of patients, with the goal of improving disease control and quality of life.
Biogem's presence in international research will continue in the coming weeks. Professor Capasso will deliver a keynote lecture on June 18th at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, as part of a conference dedicated to the interaction between the kidney and the brain.
The initiative is organized with explicit reference to CONNECT (Cognitive Decline in Nephro-Neurology European Cooperative Target Action), the European network coordinated by Biogem's scientific director. This project has importantly contributed to open a new and promising area of research, now at the heart of the Irpinia institute and numerous international scientific centers.
Biogem's increasingly significant presence at major international scientific events confirms its role as a leading research institute in kidney disease and its neurological consequences, with the aim of transforming scientific discoveries into new treatment options for patients.
