Can you tell us a little about your clinical role and specialty?
I’m a Consultant Nephrologist (kidney specialist) at Salford Royal, part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. Alongside my clinical work, I am one of the Trust’s Deputy Directors for Research & Innovation, an Honorary Professor at the University of Manchester, and a Visiting Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University.
My main areas of interest are chronic kidney disease, glomerular diseases, and some of the complications of kidney disease that can affect bones and blood vessels.
What led you to focus on kidney disease in your career?
During my first year as a doctor, I spent six months working on a kidney transplant unit and was hooked. I was fascinated by the idea that we can replace the function of a failing organ through treatments such as dialysis and transplantation, but I was equally drawn to the people behind those treatments and the difference they can make to patients’ lives.
I loved the variety of nephrology, the enthusiasm of everyone working in the specialty, and the opportunity to build lasting relationships with patients, supporting them over many years rather than just a single visit.
What inspired you to become a trustee for Kidneys for Life?
Many of the treatments and services we can offer patients today are the direct result of research. However, kidney disease remains underfunded compared with many other conditions.
Kidneys for Life plays a vital role by supporting early-career researchers with grants that help them gather the evidence needed to secure larger national funding. By helping to nurture new talent and innovative ideas here in Greater Manchester, the charity is investing in the future of kidney care, and that’s something I’m proud to support as a trustee.
What developments in kidney research are you most excited about right now?
There are lots of exciting developments happening across kidney research.
We’re getting much better at identifying kidney disease earlier and slowing its progression. Genetic testing is helping us diagnose conditions that previously remained unexplained, and new targeted treatments are becoming available for kidney diseases that were once very difficult to treat.
I’m also encouraged by the increasing focus on health inequalities and understanding why kidney disease affects some communities more than others. At the same time, researchers are showing that clinical trials can be successfully carried out even in very rare kidney conditions, giving patients access to potential new treatments that simply weren’t available before
What is one thing you wish more people understood about kidney disease?
Kidney disease is far more common than many people realise, and it can develop very quietly, often without causing symptoms until it is quite advanced.
The good news is that, when kidney disease is detected early, there is often a great deal we can do to slow its progression and protect kidney function.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Say yes to opportunities, even if they seem like extra work at the time. Some of the most rewarding experiences in my career have come from opportunities I might otherwise have passed up.