A research initiative identifying the pathogenetic agents and early biomarkers of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology in Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh.
"CKDu manifests in otherwise healthy individuals — without diabetes, hypertension, or glomerular disease — indicating a distinct and poorly understood disease pathway."
Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology has become an escalating public health crisis in coastal Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the Uddanam region of Srikakulam District. Unlike conventional CKD, it strikes working-age individuals with no prior risk factors, making early detection and causal identification an urgent priority.
Current evidence strongly associates CKDu onset with environmental and occupational exposures — pesticides, heavy metals, fluoride and silica — compounded by heat stress and lifestyle factors specific to this agricultural community.
Each objective builds toward a comprehensive understanding of CKDu — from exposure to detection to prevention.
Comprehensively evaluate exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, fluoride and silica across water, soil, blood, urine and kidney tissue samples from the Uddanam population.
Identify and validate clinical and metabolic biomarkers — including blood, urine, and urinary metabolomics signatures — for early detection, disease staging, and long-term monitoring.
Integrate exposure and biomarker data into a unified risk assessment model that informs targeted, community-level preventive interventions in Srikakulam District.
Uddanam — a coastal belt in Srikakulam District — has witnessed an alarming rise in CKDu cases over the past two decades, disproportionately affecting agricultural workers and their families. This study is anchored in this community.
For research inquiries, media, or data access requests, please reach out via email.