Research Projects
Research projects are at the heart of Kidneys for Life – the funding and support that we raise, helps this vital research continue, our grants would be considered as “Pump Priming Grants” and if you would like a further explanation and an example please follow download KFL – Pump Priming Grants Explanation.
One such grant was awarded to Professor Adrian Woolf who said “that a grant from Kidneys for Life has allowed his team to generate and grow human mini-kidneys in a dish. Adrian is a kidney consultant at the Royal Manchester Children’s hospital where he runs a clinic for families with inherited kidney problems.
He told us that “With Professor Susan Kimber and her team in the University of Manchester, we have been able to take special ‘pluripotent cells’ and encourage them to form little kidneys that contain glomeruli and tubules. They look just like small human kidneys”. Using the latest stem cell technologies the team have also begun to grow mini-kidneys from a simple blood sample taken from people with inherited kidney diseases. Adrian also told us that “Kidneys for Life’s grant has been critical in getting this work started. In the future, the door is open to make new mini-kidneys that make urine and to find new treatments for potentially devastating inherited kidney diseases”
The KFL 2024 Research Grant programme is now accepting applications. Deadline for applying is 13th October 2024.
If you have any questions surrounding please do get in touch
Statements
Research Grant Application Form – Kidneys for Life 2024
Research Grant Application SOP 2024
KFL Statement on Human Stem Cell Research
2023 KLF Research Grants
Total Funded: £46,401
Targeting miR-21 to inhibit the inflammatory response following ischaemic kidney injury
Biomarkers of cognitive impairment in CKD
Efficacy and Predictive Factors of Rituximab Treatment in Membranous Nephropathy
2022 KLF Research Grants
Total Funded: £49,018
Cardiovascular Risk Profiling in ANCA-Associated Glomerulonephritis
Manchester Vascular Access Study (MANVAS)
Long-term efficacy of gene therapy for an early onset bladder disease
Relevance of Non-HLA Antibodies in Kidney Transplantation
2021 KLF Research Grants
Total Funded: £57,361
Using Biomarkers in developing Precision Medicine in Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome
Click to hear Omar Ragy describing his project in more detail C19-nephrotic vs Idiopathic nephrotic (KFL project grant)
Defining Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome with proteogenomic analysis – A Proof of Concept study
Enhancing the Kidney Information Network
Utility of TTV Viral load as a biomarker of immunocompetence in Transplantation
Treating a genetic kidney disease in a human stem cell model
Transdermal fluid removal in patients with fluid overload
Prediction Tool in Anti-GBM Disease to Improve Kidney and Patient Outcome
The Role of Peritoneal Calcification in the Pathogenesis of Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis
Investigating genetic variants in the progression of autoimmune membranous nephropathy
2019 KLF Research Grants
Total Funded: £84,756
A new device to simplify minimal invasive pyeloplasty – an update on the project can be found here.
Identifying barriers and enablers for return to work for transplant patients: a scoping study
Validation of cystatin C for GFR estimations in older patients with cystic fibrosis to describe and prevalence of CKD – Here is the final report on this project can be Accuracy of creatinine and Cystatin C eGFR versus iohexol mGFR in an older adult Cystic Fibrosis Population
Can pre-operative testing be used to predict incisional hernia formation after renal transplantation?
A longitudinal, observational pilot study of sleep chronobiology in HD recipients
Defining the molecular signature for ANCA associated vasculitis
The role of high vascular flow and vascular patterning in tissue engineered renal genesis – we have received an update on this project which can be found here Update on project -The role of high vascular flow and vascular patterning in tissue engineered renal genesis
Development of smarter Urinary sphincter – this project is currently not going ahead
2018 KLF Research Grants
Total Funded: £46,895
Genetic associations with increased repolarisation heterogeneity and cardiac risk in HD patients
Investigation of gene therapy techniques for the lower urinary tract
Modelling congenital cystic disease using human pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids
Proteomic analysis of molecules exchanged using new medium cut-off dialysis membrane
Studying human kidney malformations in a dish
2017 KLF Research Grants
Total Funded: £95,283
Elucidating the effect and role of hypoxia on differentiation of stem cells to kidney progenitors
Investigating FGF23 as a modulator of renal hypertrophy
What is the significance of shortening Acute Kidney Injury Recovery Time – “This grant has been funded by our KFL Cycle Team 2017”
A Pilot Analysis of the Changes in the Oral Microbiome Associated with Kidney Transplantation – “This grant has been funded by our KFL Cycle Team 2017”
A zebrafish screen for chemicals to delay chronic kidney disease
The use of Microdialysis catheters to assay the interstitial fluid in kidney allografts immediately after transplantation– “This grant has been funded by our KFL Cycle Team 2017”
Why do mutations of ACTB, coding for β-actin, cause kidney malformations?
Assessment of Pancreas Allografts Using Novel Magnetic Resonance Techniques
2016 KLF Research Grants
Total Funded: £143,539
Investigating integrin activation in nephrotic syndrome – “This grant has been funded by our KFL Cycle Team 2016”
Investigating the T and B cell response in Primary Membranous Nephropathy
Insulin therapy as a marker of beta-cell death in pancreas donors
Innovative molecular approaches to prevent dialysis-related peritoneal fibrosis – “This grant has been funded by our KFL Cycle Team 2016”
Cardiac Fibrosis in End Stage Renal Failure and Diabetes: Role of Simultaneous Pancreas And Kidney Transplantation (SPKT) – “This grant has been partially funded by our China Trekkers 2016”
A feasibility study into developing a care delivery model for limited rate ultrafiltration in in-centre thrice weekly haemodialysis – “This grant has been funded by our China Trekkers 2016”
A pilot study to determine the impact of exercise on cognitive function in haemodialysis patients
Understanding the role of ITGA11 in renal fibrosis to advance diagnostic and therapeutic strategies
Development of a North West Big Data Transplant and Renal Cloud – Proof of Principle “This grant has been funded by our KFL Cycle Team 2016”
2015 KLF Research Grants
Total Funded: £154,078
Are critical regulatory T cells present in the peri-nephric fat of human kidney allografts?
An investigation of transcapillary plasma refill during ultrafiltration in haemodialysis
Cardiac Output Monitoring in Donation After Cardiac Death
Characterisation of IQCJ deletion in vitro, mouse and human
Developing a health economic model of diagnosis and management of membranous nephropathy – “This grant has been funded by the London to Paris Cycle Team 2015”
Does High Dose Haemodiafiltration alter drug kinetics compared to conventional dialysis therapy? – “This grant has been funded by the London to Paris Cycle Team 2015”
The Prevalence and Clinical Relevance of Non Human Leucocytes Antigen (Non-HLA) Antibodies in Renal Transplantation – “This grant has been funded by the London to Paris Cycle Team 2015”
The use of Epitope Panning to identify potential causative agents for EBV negative Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD) – “This grant has been funded by the London to Paris Cycle Team 2015”
Understanding the interaction of genetics and environment in triggering anti-PLA2R production in membranous nephropathy in the UK BioBank Population – “This grant has been funded by the London to Paris Cycle Team 2015”
Utilising novel microscopy approaches to understand glomerular disease
Previous Research Grants
Total Funded: £500,916
You can find a full list of our grants for research projects below:
An observational study to examine changes in Serum Bone profile following Unilateral Nephrectomy
Anti-PLA2R antibodies in membranous nephropathy
Are Mutations In Alport Syndrome Genes Associated With Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis (EPS)?
Compare microRNA expression of renal AAV
Continuous Gloucose Monitoring in post op Pancreas Transplant
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound Scanning for Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation
Discovery of a novel gene causing renal failure
Discriminating between cases of primary and secondary Membranous Nephropathy (MN)
Effect of donor nephrectomy on markers of bone function in living kidney donors
Effects of long hours haemodialysis on phosphate clearance
Genetic characterization of bladder exstrophy
Improving Outcomes in Acute Kidney Injury in Paediatric Intensive Care Patients
Investigation into sodium distribution in anuric patients on dialysis (SoDIUM Study)
Manchester Renal Patient BioBank (MRPB)
National Rare Kidney Disease Working Group for Membranous Nephropathy
Rare Kidney Disease Consortium
Recurrence of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy (IMN) post transplantation
Retinal Imaging to identify calcification
Sensitisation to MICA in renal patients
Structured Educational Interventions in CKD
Understanding the immune pathology of SLE membranous nephritis