New research grant awarded to Dr. Ben Lingard

New research grant award

Kidney Disease as a Cause of Elevated Sphingolipids

PI: Ben Lidgard, MD

Career Development Award from the American Heart Association 
Dates: 4/1/26 - 3/31/29

Primary mentor:
Rozenn Lemaitre

Co-mentors:
Kevin O’Brien, Nisha Bansal, Ting Ye

Project Narrative: Over 35 million adult Americans have kidney disease. Heart disease is common, and the leading cause of death, among people with kidney disease. Levels of sphingolipids increase the risk for heart disease in people with kidney disease. Kidney disease may cause increased levels of sphingolipids. We will use multi-omic data to test if kidney disease increases sphingolipids, which may allow us to better prevent heart disease in the future. We also lack information on which medications can lower sphingolipids in people with kidney disease. To answer this question, we will perform a clinical trial testing the effect of evolocumab on circulating sphingolipids. Collectively, this project will inform us who is at high risk for heart disease, and what medications we can use to prevent heart disease in patients with kidney disease.