Can we make the switch from kidney damage to repair?

04 June 2025

Dr Irina Grigorieva from Cardiff University has received the Iris Bruton Award of £250,000 in partnership with Kidney Research UK to look at how a type of kidney cell could promote healing and repair to improve kidney function.

Scarring in the kidney causes loss of kidney function

Damage to the kidneys from injury or disease can sometimes be repaired by the body’s normal healing response. However, in other cases scar tissue replaces normal kidney tissue. This means that some kidney function is lost, potentially leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can be found in various parts of the body, including the kidney. Although these cells have important roles in healing and controlling inflammation, in some situations they are involved in damage to healthy kidney tissue.

A predominantly black background image, which lots of red and purple flecks of colour. There are some white arrows and white letter T on the image.

Kidney cells under a special type of microscope. The type of MSCs involved in repair are shown by the white arrows. Blood vessels are shown in red and purple. Tiny tubes in the kidney (t) carry the fluid that eventually forms urine.

Dr Irina Grigorieva

Meet Dr Irina Grigorieva

Dr Irina Grigorieva works at Cardiff University looking at kidney disease, particularly the formation of scar tissue. The Iris Bruton Award of £250,000, awarded by Kidney Research UK, will enable Irina to undertake a fellowship to progress her research career, while contributing valuable information to help identify new treatments for people with kidney disease.

“Mesenchymal stromal cells have often been overlooked in kidney research, and when they have been studied, the focus has been on their involvement in harmful processes like scarring. I’m keen to shift that perspective by exploring their roles in kidney growth and repair, and how we could harness these protective functions to improve kidney health.” Dr Irina Grigorieva

Understanding the switch from kidney damage to repair

Irina’s previous work identified several different types of MSCs, some of which help with growth and repair, others lead to scarring. Using special technology Irina will study the DNA, gene expression and proteins in MSCs in laboratory models of kidney disease. This will help her to understand how different MSCs either help with healing and repair, or form scar tissue. She aims to use this information to find new ways to promote growth and repair of the kidneys to improve their function.

Looking for future treatment options

By identifying which groups of MSCs support growth and repair, which cause scarring, and understanding the mechanisms underlying this, new treatment targets could be identified to try and prevent MSCs forming scar tissue and instead repair damage to the kidneys in the future.

Image of Iris holding up a framed image.

Iris Bruton

The Iris Bruton Award

This project is funded by a generous gift in the legacy of Iris Bruton (1916 – 2022).

“Iris was born and brought up an only child in the East End of London where her parents ran a pub. She was a fiercely independent and fun woman with a wicked sense of humour. It was a joy and privilege to be her friend.

"Iris lived a full life and had a number of careers including at a: tailors on Saville Row; munitions factory off Brick Lane during the second World War; and the Godfrey Morris cigarette factory. Family was important to Iris and she was particularly close to her dad. She was a keen gardener and she and her husband Cyril shared their lives with a number of cats and dogs over the years.

"Whilst Iris was fit and healthy throughout her life, Cyril was touched by both heart and kidney conditions.  Consequently, it was Iris' wish that her legacy be split between Kidney Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.  She would be delighted to see the impact her gift has had on the work undertaken by Kidney Research UK.” George and Tessa, executors and friends of Iris.