Ashima Gulati, MD, PhD, receives prestigious KidneyCure research grant - Children's National

Ashima Gulati, MD, PhD, pediatric nephrologist at Children's National, has been named a 2026 KidneyCure Research Scholar Grant recipient.

Dr. Gulati is one of 34 new grantees joining a cohort of 22 continuing awardees, representing more than $4 million in 2026 funding from KidneyCure, the American Society of Nephrology Foundation for Kidney Research, to advance kidney research.

Together, the recipients represent the sharpest minds and most promising research in the kidney community, with Children's National continuing to play a leading role in several areas of pediatric kidney research.

With the Norman Siegel Research Scholar Grant, Dr. Gulati will investigate how interactions between kidney cells and immune cells contribute to disease progression in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).

Using a novel pre-clinical model and single-cell RNA sequencing, this project will define the transcriptomic landscape of kidney-immune cell interactions driving ARPKD progression. Dr. Gulati hopes this foundational work will pave the way for future clinical trials and the development of new therapies for patients with ARPKD over the next decade.

"I hope this research will establish the groundwork for ultimately studying targeted, immune-based interventions that favorably alter kidney disease progression in ARPKD," Dr. Gulati said.

Despite ongoing challenges in pediatric nephrology research, Dr. Gulati remains dedicated to advancing the field. Her commitment is fueled by a desire to address the most clinically meaningful questions arising from her research focused on polycystic kidney disease (PKD).

This award is part of KidneyCure's Transition to Independence Grants Program, which supports early-career investigators as they establish independent research programs. Children's National pediatric nephrologist Denver Brown, MD, is currently in her second year as a Transition to Independence grantee.

"Grant funding through KidneyCure is critically important because it provides essential support for early-career physician-scientists," Dr. Gulati said. "These awards serve as a vital bridge to securing independent R01-level funding and building a sustainable academic research career."