The purpose of this funding opportunity is to advance the NIH mission by supporting the continuation of the Consortium to Study Chronic Kidney Disease of UnceRtain Etiology (CKDu) in Agricultural Communities (CURE).

Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Etiology (CKDu) causes kidney failure in rural areas of many Low and Middle Income Countries, resulting in a large death toll among the young working age population. Environmental factors are suspected to be causative, but family and geographic clustering add consideration of unrecognized genetic susceptibility. The risk factors identified in other countries are encountered by U.S. patients, so this research will offer valuable insights into the development and progression of tubulointerstitial renal diseases, with broad implications for understanding kidney health and disease in the U.S.