Kidney Disease HIT 2023-24

Building kidney disease evidence base

The Kidney Disease HIT focuses primarily on supporting and developing research into detecting, managing and treating kidney disease. Here are some examples where particular progress has been made this year:

• Older adults who receive a kidney transplant have worse outcomes after transplantation than younger adults. They are more likely to experiencing immunosuppression side effects, serious infections and malignancies. HIT researchers have been awarded NIHR Research for Patient Benefit funding for a feasibility trial (OPTIMAL) to evaluate immunosuppression drug dosage specifically tailored for older adults who receive a transplant. Findings will influence whether to submit an application for a full-scale effectiveness randomised controlled trial.
• The Integrate CKD study is looking at interventions that will improve delivery of care for people with chronic kidney disease. HIT co-director Dominic Taylor was the lead author on a study paper which was chosen as an American Society of Nephrology ‘BEST of ASN Journals’ paper in Kidney Week 2023.
• HIT members are involved in a feasibility trial to improve access to kidney transplantation, funded by the Wellcome Trust. This trial has achieved impressive recruitment of participants from UK minority ethnic groups (27% versus 22% of the eligible population). An application for funding for an effectiveness trial has been submitted to NIHR’s Health and Social Care Delivery Research Programme.

Involving people with lived experience

The HIT has doubled its public contributor numbers this year, welcoming Richard Percival and Nicola Lucas. All public contributors continue to provide valuable input to the HIT’s research and service improvement activities, from reviewing funding applications to developing information for patients.

British Transplantation Society guidance on APOL1 genetic testing in living kidney donors with African heritage testing went live in April 2024. HIT co-director Pippa Bailey chaired the national guideline writing group and Primrose Granville was a public contributor to the group.

Engaging with national kidney disease community to promote change locally

External speakers are now regularly invited to HIT meetings to gain insights from the kidney disease community. At one meeting, Kidney Care UK’s Patient and Advocacy Officer talked about the need amongst people with kidney disease for psychosocial support that was not currently being met by existing charitable, NHS or community services. This has led to the HIT developing an application to Kidney Care UK to fund a renal social worker for the kidney unit at Southmead Hospital.

Funding enabled in 2023-24

Kidney Disease HIT helped secure £284,832 in 2023-24 for research, improving outcomes and addressing health inequalities.