Chou-Long Huang, MD, PhD

Bridge Grant Pilot Program

Institution: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

How would you sum up your overall research focus in one sentence?

We aim to understand the role of TLR4-mediated CNS inflammation and Klotho deficiency in CKD-associated cognitive dysfunction.

Provide a brief overview of the research project you will conduct with help from the grant.

Create global and neuronal TLR4-cKO, Klotho-expressing Tg mice and assess the effect on neurobehavioral tests in CKD mice.

What inspired you to focus your work in this area?

CKD is a pandemic and significant number of CKD patients have cognitive dysfunction

What impact do you hope your research will have on people with kidney diseases?

A better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in CKD and may help development of potential treatments.

What has surprised you most about your career?

How badly politics got into scientific discovery and development and the lack of effort to correct that.

What are the major challenges facing nephrology research today?

Lack of funding and lack of interests from trainees.

In one sentence, please describe the importance of having grant funding available through KidneyCure.

Our research progress has been well and application to NIH received fundable score. The recent changes in government and NIH funding policy negatively impact our funding. The bridge funds hopefully will allow us to continue for resubmit.

Something you may not know about me is…

Simple man with strong devotion to science and medicine with high standards and regards for principles

In my free time I like to…

Read history and literature, spending time with family and puppies.