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  1. RA Research Committee notes v2 June 2012
    .pdf file (53.65 KB)
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  2. UKKRC15July2011report
    .doc file (29.00 KB)
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  3. Research comm minutes June11
    .docx file (99.67 KB)
    Research committee minutes June 2011
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  4. Research Committee minutes 14-02-11
    .doc file (36.00 KB)
    Minutes of conference call meeting Feb 2011
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  5. Minutes from 3rd July UKKRC meeting with UKCCRN Renal leads
    .pdf file (62.82 KB)
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  6. UKKRC and the UKCCRN - presentation by COS and ANT July 2009
    .pdf file (2.24 MB)
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  7. Clinical Study Group Remit July 2009
    .pdf file (60.13 KB)
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  8. Research Committee report August 2009
    .pdf file (33.63 KB)
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  9. UK Kidney Research Consortium proposal
    .pdf file (219.65 KB)
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Research

The Renal Association does not fund research directly, but the encouragement and promotion of research into renal diseases and their prevention and treatment have been major aims since the creation of the Association. Kidney Research UK (formerly the National Kidney Research Fund) was set up by members of the Renal Association and continues to be the major independent funding body for renal research in the UK. It runs a project grant funding round and a fellowship funding round each year, together with joint funding initiatives (e.g. with MRC and the BRS). More about Kidney Research UK.

Through the Research Committee's newly developing Clinical Forum, the Renal Association encourages and facilitates clinical trials in the field of nephrology. Two other fora are also in development, concerned with in-vitro approaches and cell/whole organism-based research

Various other research initiatives under the broad auspices of the Renal Association are listed below.

Research Committee membership

Chair: Prof Fiona Karet

Dr Emanuele del'Angelantonio

Dr Richard Coward

Dr Mark Dockrell

Dr Lars Erwig

Dr Rachel Lennon 

Dr Amy-Jayne McKnight

Dr Jill Norman

Dr Dorothea Nitsch

Dr Claire Sharpe

Dr Mark Taylor

Prof Magdi Yaqoob

Dr Damian Forgarty (observer)
 Contact: Professor Fiona Karet, email - fek1000@cam.ac.uk

Research initiatives in which the Renal Association is involved

CLINICAL TRIALS

If you are contemplating a clinical trial, you can ask the Research Committee's experts in its Clinical Forum for help and advice. Please contact the Chair in the first instance.

UKKRC CLINICAL STUDY GROUPS

Leaders of the twelve national Clinical Study Groups meet regularly to exchange information and promote potential studies. You can see a brief report of the most recent meeting here.

 

Genetic susceptibility to renal disease 

The research committee contains a genetics working group, which broadly encompasses the two UKKRC clinical study groups on cystic and non-cystic disorders.

An oversight committee for the Renal DNA collections is chaired by Professor Tim Goodship.
A National DNA Repository to study genetic susceptibility to glomerulonephritis has been funded by the MRC and by Kidney Research UK. This collection is now available to researchers - see also further information on the DNA Network website  

The UK Vesicoureteric Reflux (VUR) DNA collection has been funded by the Wellcome Trust, facilitated by Kidney Research UK. It shares governance arrangements as above.

 

Haemodialysis and exercise
Dr Patrick Naish is coordinating an interest group in this area. Further information will be posted here. Contact him at patrick.naish@hotmail.com

 

Transplantation - STEPP

This project to investigate long term outcomes (beyond graft failure and death) after renal transplantation has been coordinated by Kidney Research UK in collaboration with the Renal Association and the BTS (2005). Five transplant centres (Guy's, Leeds, Leicester, Oxford, St Helier) will collect data on kidney function, health problems and medication of transplant patients, as well as patients' own reports on their health, quality of life and the impact on their lives of transplant failure. Funding is from a consortium of the pharmaceutical companies Astellas, Roche and Wyeth. More information and updates are available from the project website at www.stepp.org.uk.

 

Quality Improvements in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Significant Challenge for Primary Care

Kidney Research UK, in collaboration with University Hospital Leicester and St George’s-University of London, have developed a unique, £1.2 million partnership with support from the Health Foundation and Edith Murphy Foundation. The development group for this proposal included members of several bodies including the Renal Association, and the RA is represented on the steering group by Dr Kevin Harris. Two complementary, three-year community research studies, commencing in Summer 2007, have been developed to test and implement a range of quality improvements (QIs) for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with one project specifically focussing on those patients also having diabetes. The overall objective is to identify a quality improvement (QI) programme delivering the evidence base for better primary care-led interventions, enhance the quality of care and drive forward new advances in the treatment of CKD within the community. More information and updates from KRUK

 

The UK EPS Registry and DNA Bank

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis is a terrible complication of peritoneal dialysis. The fact that it is relatively uncommon makes it difficult to study. It is hoped that this national registry will coordinate our efforts to better understand this disease. For more information, or to get involved, contact Louese Dunn in Manchester. More information.

 

5-ASA nephrotoxicity

Drs. Ahmad and colleagues are investigating this topic, see here


Research Training for clinicians

The Research Committee has updated its Strategy document on Research Training for Clinicians, see here

 

Documents and minutes of the Research Committee