{"id":161772,"date":"2026-05-06T08:57:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T07:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/?p=161772"},"modified":"2026-06-12T12:31:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T11:31:31","slug":"preventing-harm-from-bk-virus-in-the-kidney-transplant-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/2026\/05\/06\/preventing-harm-from-bk-virus-in-the-kidney-transplant-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Preventing harm from BK virus in the kidney transplant community"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p><b>Dr Simon Baker from the University of York has received a\u00a0\u00a3560,000 senior fellowship\u00a0in\u00a0partnership with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yorkagainstcancer.org.uk\/\">York Against Cancer<\/a>,\u00a0to\u00a0better understand <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/bk-virus\/\">BK virus<\/a> and find ways to stop it from harming transplanted kidneys.<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>This work builds on earlier\u00a0work\u00a0supported by Kidney Research UK, including\u00a0new research results suggesting that bladder cancer could be caused by BK virus, and ongoing research\u00a0looking at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/2025\/12\/04\/new-results-suggest-that-bladder-cancer-could-be-caused-by-the-bodys-response-to-common-childhood-virus\/\">new ways to control the virus after kidney transplant<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<h2>Building new ways to understand BK virus<\/h2>\r\n<p>To investigate this further, Dr Simon Baker and the team at York are using lab-grown models of the urinary tract that closely mimic what happens in kidney transplant recipients. These models allow them to study how BK virus damages cells over time and to test potential treatments in conditions that reflect real-life infection.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" title=\"Simon Baker lab shot\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Simon-Baker-lab-shot-19-BK-virus-lab-visit-March-2025-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Dr Simon Baker\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" title=\"Simon Baker lab shot\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Simon-Baker-lab-shot-19-BK-virus-lab-visit-March-2025-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Dr Simon Baker\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/noscript>\r\n<figcaption>Dr Simon Baker<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<p>One of the main aims of this work is to find treatments quickly by repurposing medicines that are already in use. As these drugs are known to be safe, they could move into clinical trials faster than brand new medicines. Early work in Simon&#8217;s lab has already identified promising drug targets that could help control BK virus and protect transplanted kidneys.<\/p>\r\n<p><b>Dr Simon Baker commented:<\/b>&#8220;Developing new drugs is exceptionally expensive and can take many years. By repurposing medicines that are already in use, we have a much better chance of getting treatments into clinical trials for kidney transplant patients quickly. Crucially, we already know these drugs are safe, which is especially important for this vulnerable group.&#8221;<\/p>\r\n<p>Alongside this, the team is exploring a new type of immune\u00a0system-based\u00a0therapy using natural killer, or NK, cells. These cells can recognise and destroy virus-infected cells while leaving healthy tissue unharmed.\u00a0The team\u00a0will\u00a0investigate\u00a0whether NK cells can be &#8220;trained&#8221; in the lab to better target BK virus, with the aim of developing a future treatment for patients who do not respond to existing options.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<h2>A focus on early detection\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n<p>Another important part of\u00a0Simon&#8217;s\u00a0senior fellowship\u00a0focuses on improving early detection of\u00a0bladder\u00a0cancer\u00a0in transplant patients.\u00a0By analysing cells in urine samples,\u00a0the team\u00a0hope to\u00a0identify\u00a0early signs of DNA damage linked to bladder cancer. This could help doctors\u00a0identify\u00a0which patients would\u00a0benefit\u00a0from closer monitoring and earlier treatment.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p><b>Simon added:\u00a0<\/b>&#8220;We are really interested in using urine as a simple, non-invasive way to spot problems early. By collecting cells from urine and analysing their\u00a0DNA, we can look for the first signs of pre-cancerous changes. The aim is to\u00a0identify\u00a0patients at risk sooner and offer treatments that could reduce their chances of developing bladder cancer.&#8221;<\/p>\r\n<h2>What could this mean for kidney transplant patients?<\/h2>\r\n<p>This research aims to find safe and effective ways to control BK virus, helping transplanted kidneys last longer and improving patients&#8217; long-term health. It is an important step towards better outcomes for people living with a kidney transplant.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>&#8220;We are proud to support the next phase of Simon&#8217;s research, in partnership with York Against Cancer, building on the novel insights gained during his intermediate fellowship. This senior fellowship will drive forward new ways to understand, detect and reduce both the short-term and longer-term risks associated with BK virus. For kidney transplant recipients, who often face lifelong immunosuppression, this work could lead to earlier detection and safer, more effective treatments.&#8221; <b>David Crosby, chief research officer at Kidney Research UK.<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p><b>Andy Knowles, CEO of York Against Cancer, said:<\/b>\u00a0&#8220;We&#8217;re\u00a0delighted to be a funding partner for Simon Baker&#8217;s new five-year senior fellowship, alongside Kidney Research UK. At York Against Cancer,\u00a0we&#8217;re\u00a0committed to backing high-quality research that has the potential to improve outcomes for patients and families affected by cancer. Better understanding of the BK virus can only help to reduce the risk for those living with a renal transplant, and Simon&#8217;s work is a great example of that commitment in action.&#8221;<\/p>\r\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" title=\"Dr Simon Baker and Dr Jenny Hinley microscope slide (2) - BK virus lab visit March 2025\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Simon-Baker-Jenny-Hinley-microscope-slide-2-BK-virus-lab-visit-March-2025-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Simon Baker and Jenny Hinley in the lab, holding up a microscope slide\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" title=\"Dr Simon Baker and Dr Jenny Hinley microscope slide (2) - BK virus lab visit March 2025\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Simon-Baker-Jenny-Hinley-microscope-slide-2-BK-virus-lab-visit-March-2025-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Simon Baker and Jenny Hinley in the lab, holding up a microscope slide\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" \/><\/noscript>\r\n<figcaption>Dr Simon Baker and Dr Jenny Hinley<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<h2>Supporting long-term research careers\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n<p>Moving from an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/research\/information-for-researchers\/research-funding\/\">intermediate fellowship to a senior fellowship<\/a> is a big step for researchers like Simon. This\u00a0funding provides longer-term job security (called tenure), allowing them to focus on finding answers and developing new treatments.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>&#8220;This opportunity means I am now a permanent member of academic staff and will start lecturing at the end of the grant. Most importantly, it allows me to keep building and continuing this work here in York, rather than starting again elsewhere. I&#8217;m incredibly grateful to Kidney Research UK for investing in me in this way, as it means I can keep moving this research forward as quickly as possible to help kidney transplant recipients.&#8221;\u00a0<b>Dr Simon Baker.<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<h2>About York Against Cancer \u00a0<\/h2>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yorkagainstcancer.org.uk\/\">York Against Cancer<\/a> is an independent charity helping people in York and parts of North and East Yorkshire affected by cancer.\u00a0York Against Cancer exists to make living with cancer easier, delivering a range of support services for cancer patients and their loved ones, including a free minibus that takes people from York to St. James&#8217;s Hospital in Leeds for radiotherapy appointments, free short breaks in two luxury respite properties for cancer patients and their loved ones to take time away, an award-winning mobile chemotherapy unit, free, tailored exercise classes for cancer patients and our cancer support centre, The Leveson Centre.<\/p>\r\n<p>They also fund pioneering research at the Jack Birch Unit at the University of York. Since starting in 1987, the charity has raised over \u00a320 million to support people in York and across the region. Their aims today are the same as they were when the charity was founded &#8211; to support as many people affected by cancer as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" title=\"kidney-kit\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/kidney-kit-2025-1-500x500.png\" alt=\"Kidney Kit bundle\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" title=\"kidney-kit\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/kidney-kit-2025-1-500x500.png\" alt=\"Kidney Kit bundle\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\r\n<h2>Have you been diagnosed with kidney disease?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Request your free Kidney Kit today.<\/p>\r\n<p>You&#8217;ll find tips and support from kidney patients, delicious recipes, simple exercise plans and more.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-kit\/\" target=\"_self\"> Get your free Kidney Kit <\/a><\/p>\r\n<h2>Why not make a donation now?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Every \u00a3 counts towards transforming treatments for people living with kidney disease.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/support\/donate\/\" target=\"_self\"> Donate now <\/a><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr Simon Baker from the University of York has received a\u00a0\u00a3560,000 senior fellowship\u00a0in\u00a0partnership with\u00a0York Against Cancer,\u00a0to\u00a0better understand BK virus and find ways to stop it from harming transplanted kidneys.\u00a0 This work builds on earlier\u00a0work\u00a0supported by Kidney Research UK, including\u00a0new research results suggesting that bladder cancer could be caused by BK virus, and ongoing research\u00a0looking at\u00a0new&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":161773,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[322,345,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-161772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bk-virus","category-cancer","category-research"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Preventing harm from BK virus in the kidney transplant community - Kidney Research UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dr Simon Baker, in partnership with York Against Cancer, is researching BK virus to find ways to stop it from harming transplanted kidneys.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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