The focus of my research is to examine a potential role of prostaglandin receptors in chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD is a condition characterized by gradual loss of kidney function, which eventually can lead to kidney failure. The mechanisms underlying the start and progression of CKD are still unclear.
Prostaglandin PGE2 is produced by the natural breakdown of cell membrane phospholipids. PGE2 can act as a signaling molecule, and the receptors of PGE2 have prevalent roles in regulating kidney vasculature and glomerular-tubular systems. Several studies suggest that prostaglandin receptor EP4 may play a role in kidney disease. My research will attempt to elucidate the role of EP4 in CKD. Specifically, I aim to develop a conditional EP4 knockout mouse model, lacking the receptor just in the kidney tubules, that I will then study for the development and progression of CKD.
Cristina Esteva-Font is a biologist interested in kidney physiology. After obtaining her PhD in Cellular Biology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, she was a Fulbright postdoctoral fellow for 2 years at the University of California – San Francisco where she focused on drug discovery and high-throughput screening to study the role of urea transporters as a new class of diuretics. Afterwards, as an Associate Specialist she participated as well in a project to improve the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells from humans to hepatocytes. Recently, she started a collaboration with Aarhus University to study the role of prostaglandins in kidney disease. The funding from AIAS will allow her to keep working on this project (2019-2021).
Project title:
Targeting prostaglandins in chronic kidney disease
Area of research:
Health and medical sciences
Fellowship period:
1 Oct 2019 - 31 Mar 2021
