Funded by Kidney Care UK this study is looking at the impact renal social work support makes for kidney patients

The UK blood donor selection policy is currently one based on sexuality. New research was needed to design new screening tools in order to change the policy to one based on sexual behaviour and fairer for everybody.

The aim of this mixed-method study was to: examine patients’ and families’ knowledge, understanding and experiences of PD-associated peritonitis.

A UK wide study learning about women's experiences of pregnancy and making decisions about having children whilst living with kidney disease.

Kidney transplantation is considered the most effective modality of renal replacement therapy (RRT), providing the best long term outcomes for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), who are considered fit for major surgery and chronic immunosuppression (The Renal Association 2011). Nevertheless, some patients refuse transplantation and the reasons are unclear.

For many years our research group has focused on understanding the mechanisms controlling the scarring of the kidney that is characteristic of CKD. This scarring results from changes in the structure and functions of cells in the cortex of the kidney and our group is at the forefront of research aimed at finding treatments to prevent or even reverse these changes.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a long-term condition. Older people living with CKD commonly have one or more additional diseases or disorders, which means that their health care is particularly complex.

Currently the aspect of social care is underrepresented when it comes to research on kidney disease. The idea of the Social Care Innovation Lab (#SCIL) is to explore which social care topics are important to consider when designing research focused on kidney disease.

Young people age 14 – 25 years with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been identified as generally having poor health outcomes and are a high-risk group due in part to poor self-management. Contact Jane Noyes Bangor University

Many of the widely used diagnostic tests to identify various forms of kidney disease involve somewhat invasive testing processes such as a blood test and even a biopsy. This research group in WKRU is developing new ways to look for, and then identify earlier, various signs of kidney disease or potentially serious kidney problems. Contact Dr Tim Bowen Cardiff University.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a syndrome characterised by an abrupt loss of renal function.

Low levels of vitamin D are associated with cardiovascular disease, infection and malignancy, and current evidence supports the notion that supplementation with native vitamin D (colecalciferol) reduces mortality in the general population.

The WKRU is involved in the set up and maintenance of the newly developed Rare Kidney Disease Registry (RaDar). Blood samples and DNA are being collected from all patients, thus allowing for the first time detailed clinical and biological studies to be pursued on large numbers of patients in the UK.

The NHS has funded the Prepare for Kidney Care study, which aims to help older people with kidney disease make the right decision for them when their kidney function is getting very low.

A complication of being treated for kidney failure using haemodialysis is that patients develop anaemia and iron deficiency. This is a condition that leaves people feeling exhausted and seriously reduces quality of life.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a type of treatment to remove waste products from the blood for people with kidney failure.

On 1st December 2015 Wales changed the ways we give consent to organ donation.

The National Unified Renal Translational Research Enterprise, NURTuRE, is the first and unique kidney biobank for chronic kidney disease (CKD) covering England, Scotland and Wales.

The National Study of Nephrotic Syndrome, NephroS Study

Which factors determine treatment choices in patients with advanced kidney failure: Co-productive study with patients and key stakeholders. Contact Gareth Roberts.

Development and Implementation of Renal Exercise Prescription Packs to Renal Units in the UK. Contact Jamie MacDonald, Bangor University.

Surveying People Experiencing Young Adult Kidney Failure. SPEAK. Sian Griffin Cardiff Contact