Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Oxalate is a chemical found in a variety of foods which can enter the body either though the diet or by production by the body itself. When oxalate is in excess it can crystallize in the kidneys to form kidney stones. Around 10% of Canadians are affected by kidney stones, which places a large burden on the healthcare system. Kidney stones can be painful to pass, and can cause lasting damage to the urinary tract. Thus, there is motivation to further understand what causes kidney stones and how we can prevent them. The gut microbiome is a the collection of bacteria which live in the gut. We know that the gut microbiome has a different makeup of bacteria in those with kidney stone disease compared to healthy individuals. The gut microbiome can produce substances which can help in preventing oxalate crystals from forming in the kidney. This project will (1) develop a mouse model for kidney stone disease and use diet factors to change the gut microbiome (2) investigate how microbiome derived substances can prevent crystal formation, and (3) test this microbiome derived substance as a preventative treatment for kidney stone disease. This project is important as it will inform recommendations for dietary guidelines and potential treatments for people with kidney stone disease.