Support Us Join Trial

Bjornstad-Pyle-Tommerdahl Laboratory

Why do we care?

Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is the leading cause of kidney failure in the U.S., and the number of people affected has quadrupled over the past 30 years, leading to increases in co-morbidities and mortality. Current medical treatments are only partially protective in patients with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and the number of patients developing T2D and DKD is rising in youth due to the obesity epidemic.

What do we know?

Early in the course of kidney injury, the filtration elements of the kidneys work excessively, called hyperfiltration, which is common in youth with both T1D and T2D. Our research supports strong associations between insulin resistance, which is found in T1D and T2D, and hyperfiltration. Existing research indicates that hyperfiltration increases the kidney’s oxygen and energy needs. However, insulin resistance impairs the kidney cells’ ability to effectively use oxygen as fuel. The mismatch between fuel delivery and demand results in insufficient oxygen, inflammation, and kidney damage.

What do we hope to learn?

Our studies focus on defining the relationships between insulin resistance, renal energetics, and function in early DKD by using clamps, renal physiology studies, and state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) assessments. In parallel, we leverage single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and complementary multi-omics approaches—including proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics—from kidney biopsies to uncover the molecular pathways underlying these physiological changes. A better understanding of the metabolic and hemodynamic mechanisms underlying the development of DKD can help us better understand how to slow, stop, or completely prevent DKD.

Three images: kidney medical diagrams; a stylized kidney illustration with a gold W on a purple background; two people sitting by a window discussing a kidney scan shown on a laptop.

Active Studies

IMST

This study evaluates whether inspiratory muscle strength training can reduce blood pressure and improve cardiovascular and kidney health in youth at risk for type 2 diabetes. It involves a 12-week breathing intervention with physiological and vascular assessments.

Learn More Support Us
MANATEE

A placebo-controlled trial examining the combined effects of automated insulin delivery and metformin on metabolic and cardiovascular health in youth with type 1 diabetes. Participants undergo repeated assessments of insulin sensitivity and body composition over four months.

Learn More Support Us
PANTHER

This study follows youth through puberty over two years to research how puberty may affect kidney health and diabetes risk factors. This study involves three two day study visits over the course of two years (two days at baseline, and two additional at each year). The study visits entail a kidney MRI, a DEXA scan, and IV placement for kidney testing and insulin tolerance testing.

Learn More Support Us
SUGARNSALT

A large randomized clinical trial testing whether the drug sotagliflozin can slow kidney function decline in people with type 1 diabetes and moderate-to-severe diabetic kidney disease. Participants are monitored over three years with CGM data, blood/urine tests, and ketone tracking.

Learn More Support Us
WAVE T1D

This study tests whether a short course of Anti‑thymocyte Globulin (an immune‑targeting therapy) followed by either Adalimumab (an anti‑inflammatory biologic) or Verapamil (a repurposed heart medication) can help people newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes keep making their own insulin longer and better control blood sugar.

Learn More Support Us
KPMP

This study examines kidney tissue and biological samples to better understand how kidney conditions like acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease differ from person to person with the goal of discovering more targeted treatments.

Learn More Support Us

Principal Investigators

A man with glasses, wearing a navy blue suit and white shirt, stands in a brightly lit laboratory with blurred shelves and equipment in the background.
Petter Bjornstad, MD
Executive Director, UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Raisbeck Endowed Chair in Diabetes Research
View Profile
A woman with curly, shoulder-length auburn hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a light beige cardigan over a patterned top and a necklace, with a neutral gray textured background.
Laura Pyle, PhD
Research Professor of Medicine Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Director, Biostatistics, Integrative Data Sciences and Multicenter Coordination, UW Medicine Diabetes Institute
View Profile
A woman with long blonde hair and a black top smiles at the camera in a bright, modern office or lab setting with blurred blue and light-colored backgrounds.
Kalie Tommerdahl, MD
Associate Professor, Director, Clinical Research Safety, UW Medicine Diabetes Institute
View Profile

Clinical Team

A woman with long dark hair and bangs smiles while standing outdoors in front of a tree, with greenery and a wooden fence in the background.
Nhung “Leena” Nguyen, MPH, CIP, CCRP
Research Manager
A young woman with long blond hair and a white sleeveless top smiles at the camera against a plain white background.
Melissa Leroux
Clinical Research Supervisor
A man with long curly hair tied up, a full beard, and a mustache smiles at the camera. He is wearing a white coat, white shirt, and a striped tie, standing against a plain light background.
Maninder Sethi, PA-C
APP/Investigator
A young woman with long brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black denim jacket over an orange shirt and a gold necklace, standing in front of a light gray gradient background.
Amelia Johnson
Clinical Research Coordinator
A smiling person wearing glasses, a colorful cap, and a black jacket with a pink shirt stands indoors in front of store shelves filled with various products.
Kevin Bocek, MSW
Clinical Research Coordinator
A woman with long, straight black hair is facing the camera, wearing a black and maroon striped sweater. She has a neutral expression and is standing in front of a plain light-colored wall.
Anjali Kumari
Clinical Research Coordinator
A woman with light skin and long blonde hair worn to one side smiles softly at the camera. She is wearing a purple top and a necklace, with a neutral background behind her.
Amanda Bard, MS, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Data Science Team

A young woman with straight brown hair and a side part smiles at the camera. She is wearing a maroon top and is posed against a plain dark background.
Kristen Miller, MS
Senior Research Scientist; Assistant Director for Biostatistics and Data Science
A person with light brown, straight hair and fair skin is facing the camera and smiling slightly. They are wearing a plain black shirt and are posed against a light, plain background.
Matteo D’Antonio, PhD
Research Scientist
A man with curly brown hair, glasses, and a short beard is smiling. He is wearing a black suit, white shirt, and purple tie, standing in front of a plain, light-colored background.
Dylan Weissenkampen, PhD
Research Scientist
A man with curly dark hair, a trimmed beard, and mustache, wearing round red glasses, a dark suit, a light blue shirt, and a red tie, smiling at the camera against a light gray background.
Jairo A. Pinzon Cortes, MD, MSc, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
A young woman with straight black hair, wearing a navy blue textured top, smiles softly at the camera against a dark, plain background.
Ye Ji Choi, MPH
Research Scientist
A woman with long, straight black hair and medium skin tone smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black top and a delicate necklace, standing in front of a plain light-colored wall.
Shivani Ramesh, MS
Research Consultant
A young woman with long, wavy brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a white top and is posed in front of a plain gray background.
Savanah Leidholt, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Tim Vigers, MS
Biostatistician