Sonia Fargue, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in UAB’s Department of Urology, was awarded a K01 Mentored Research Scientist Career Development grant by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Fargue will be studying glycolate metabolism and renal synthesis of oxalate.
Fargue’s grant is one part career development under the mentorship of Ross Holmes, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Urology and renowned investigator in kidney stones research, and one part research, both in vitro and clinical. The goal of the five-year study is to establish the contribution of glycolate metabolism to endogenous oxalate synthesis in healthy human subjects and determine the role of the kidney in the synthesis of oxalate from glycolate.
Specifically, Fargue’s interest lies in determining how this relates to the rare inherited disease primary hyperoxaluria, which causes severe recurrent calcium oxalate kidney stones in both children and adults.
“I hope the mechanisms uncovered by this study will help shed light on the pathways that are perturbed in primary hyperoxaluria and can guide future research toward discovering new treatments or help with patient management for this severe disease,” Fargue said.