Dissertation • Alina Meyer

Kidney cysts, or Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), is the most common inherited kidney disorder. There is still no cure for the disease, with only one available drug capable of slowing down the growth of cysts. In her research project, Alina Meyer, PhD student at the Department of Pharmacy, has worked with a focus on drug repurposing to pave new ways for a treatment of ADPKD.

Drug repurposing, the reuse of existing compounds with known safety profiles for new clinical indications, is a field rapidly increasing in medical importance. A study of a number of drugs showed that these could, on average, be used against eleven times more diseases than intended, and in the DRUGtrain consortium – where Alina Meyer participates – nine European research environments have, with funding from Horizon 2020, mapped a selection of drug molecules therapeutic effects against ADPKD.

In her work, Alina Meyer has identified disrupted biological processes in the disease and uncovered mechanisms of action for repurposing drugs. Additionally, Alina has characterized two in vitro models – one mimicking the healthy kidney and the other mimicking the diseased kidney – for their potential use in future drug screening: Findings likely to provide valuable knowledge for future research to develop an effective treatment for ADPKD.

Researcher bio

Alina Meyer first arrived at Uppsala University in January 2020 to conduct her master's thesis at the Department of Pharmacy. In September 2021, Alina Meyer returned as a Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher when she was recruited as a PhD student to Professor Per Artursson's research environment in Dosage Form Design.

Read thesis

Insights into Polycystic Kidney Disease: In Vitro Models, Proteome Analyses and Drug Repurposing (Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2025)