The problems of diabetes and hypertension increase with age. These problems are common in both developed and developing countries. Hypertension and diabetes ultimately affects other vital organs like the heart and kidneys. In the case of damaged kidneys, the patient is usually given dialysis which performs the work of the kidney - ie it filters the blood and after removing waste the blood is re circulated into the body. However, researchers are looking for better options as well. It has been found in many cases that kidneys repair themselves when they get damaged due to an injury. This means that if one could understand how the kidney repairs itself, one could come closer to possible treatment related to kidney damage. This has encouraged researchers to analyze the repair mechanism of the kidney. 

Researchers have found that stem cells are vital for the repair mechanism. But, the location of these stem cells is not known with certainty. The research has been conducted on the kidneys of adult mice. The tubular epithelial cell present in the kidney is found to have the capability of repairing itself. The researchers are of the opinion that as the stem cells are present in the kidney, they must be present within the tubular epithelial population. 

Identifying the specific cell responsible for kidney repair could be considered as the first step. Much research is needed in this field so that new regenerative therapies may be designed. This could ultimately be helpful in repairing the damaged kidney. Alternatively, the regenerative therapies could also be useful in treating chronic and slow damage of the kidneys.