Kidney Disease as a Cause of Elevated Sphingolipids

Dr. Benjamin Lidgard, assistant professor (Nephrology) received a K23 Career Development Award for his project, “Kidney Disease as a Cause for Elevated Sphingolipids.”

People with kidney disease are at a high risk for heart disease. Levels of small fat molecules which are higher in people with kidney disease might increase this risk for heart disease.

This project will study how kidney disease increases the levels of these fat molecules, and how a new medication (evolocumab) might be used to lower the levels of these fats.