The ENDDANS collaborative project is developing a non-invasive diagnostic method for autoimmune forms of nephrotic syndrome. The focus is on autoantibodies against podocyte proteins, in particular nephrin, which could enable a more precise differentiation between minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). To this end, autoantibodies and their specific epitopes are being characterised and correlated with clinical phenotypes and disease progression. In collaboration with EUROIMMUN, promising biomarkers are being translated into sensitive, quantitative and high-throughput testing methods. The aim is to bridge the diagnostic gap in podocytopathies and to enable a molecularly defined diagnosis, prognosis and individualised treatment decision.

This project is funded by the Landesprogramm Wirtschaft 2021–2027 with funding from the Europäischen Fonds für regionlae Entwicklung.