Figure 3.

Molecular and physiologic pathways and barriers to clinical success preventing and treating AKI. The current state of AKI care is characterized by a high mortality rate, increased risk for CKD, and a lack of effective therapeutic interventions. Achieving clinical success in preventing and treating AKI will require interrogation of biosamples to probe AKI pathophysiology, identification of preclinical targets and animal models, as well as evaluation of targets in such in vivo models. If successful, these steps may lead to phase 1 and 2 trials to test novel therapeutics across AKI endophenotypes. Additionally, key barriers—including poor current understanding of human AKI, poor fidelity of existing animal models, and lack of known molecular targets—must be overcome. A clinical research network is a potential solution to help achieve these goals and overcome barriers. POC, proof-of-concept.