Research

Notice of change to Grants Round

Kidney Research UK is dedicated to improving the understanding of kidney disease, its causes, treatment and management through funding research, with confidence that it can build on the advances and scientific breakthroughs that have been made by researchers - many of them supported by the charity - during the past forty years. The charity continues to recognise the importance of training and research to which it allocates 75% of its charitable income.

Each year between 20-30 new grants are awarded and therefore at any one time the charity has approximately £9 million invested in over 120 active grants.

Research strategy

Kidney Research UK is dedicated to improving the understanding of kidney disease, its causes, prevention and treatment.

The main aim of the charity is to support a wide range of research projects through open calls to UK scientists. Understanding basic mechanisms of kidney disease through laboratory research is important for developing strategies for treatment and prevention and the spectrum of research currently supported ranges from molecular studies of how cells work through to clinical trials and health services research. The charity endorses the AMRC position that animals should only be used for research if it is essential and there is no alternative. All research is peer reviewed.

The charity recognises that training of medical researchers is an essential investment for the future of kidney research in the UK and awards fellowships to clinicians during their training. In addition, the charity seeks to provide support for scientists to undertake a PhD, undergo supervised training or through senior fellowships establish themselves as independent researchers.

Clinical trials provide the evidence on which to base treatment decisions. Providing funding for large scale clinical trials is currently beyond the scope of the charity, but the charity is keen to support pilot studies, and work in partnership with other research funders and professional associations, and the pharmaceutical industry to support clinical trials.

In addition to funding research from open calls the charity aims to support special projects of research in areas where a specific need is identified, often in partnership with other organisations.

Research objective

Kidney Research UK wish to support research that is relevant to the understanding of the kidneys and urinary tract system and the disease processes affecting them. There is a particular desire to support work leading to improved management, treatment and prevention of kidney disease and it's complications.