Provided herein are compositions, methods and kits for modulating expression of target genes, particularly heat shock protein 47 (hsp47). The compositions, methods and kits may include nucleic acid molecules (for example, short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA) or short hairpin RNA (shRNA)) that modulate a gene encoding hsp47, for example, the gene encoding human hsp47. The composition and methods disclosed herein may also be used in treating conditions and disorders associated with hsp47 such as liver fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, peritoneal fibrosis and kidney fibrosis.