The Oxford Kidney Pathology Atlas
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Single cellular profiling of renal disease: The Oxford Kidney Pathology Atlas
IRAS ID
308800
Contact name
Katherine Bull
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance team
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The classification of kidney disease relies on descriptions of kidney biopsy tissue sample appearances under the microscope, using special stains and fluorescent antibody markers. Many of these techniques have changed little since they were established over 60 years ago. To develop more effective targeted treatments for kidney disease, we first need to understand the disease pathology at the level of individual cells, their gene expression and protein signatures, and how different cell types within the kidney signal to each other. New technologies that allow us to interrogate the kidney at the level of individual cells, and study these cells in their spatial context can help us to answer these questions. However we crucially need access to renal tissue. Clinical renal biopsies are performed for diagnostic purposes, and typically two cores of renal tissue are taken. We propose to seek consent for an additional third core, for research purposes, which we can use to study the cellular pathology in a range of poorly understood kidney diseases.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/1089
Date of REC Opinion
19 Aug 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion