UK research teams share £2.5 million kidney funding boost

Kidney Research UK’s £2.5 million award to the recipients represents a massive increase in its already substantial funding packages, which normally reach a maximum of around £1.5 million.

The amount has been boosted by collaboration with organisations including Kidney Wales and Kidney Research Yorkshire alongside generous donations from the Thompson Family Trust.

Kidney Research UK grants committee chairman Dr Andrew Lewington explained the decision saying: “Every year, we receive a many strong research applications that have real potential to shift the direction of research and transform patient care. This year, the proposals were particularly strong and of a very high quality.

“All 14 projects that were funded will help us drive forward our long-term goals to prevent, detect and treat kidney disease. The full funding amount of £2.5 millionis an exceptional amount of money and will go a long way to help accelerate the charity’s ambition to one day eradicate this life changing disease.”

Receiving projects include research into the genetic factors that influence the progression of chronic kidney disease, development of human kidney lab models for disease progression monitoring and drug screening, plus improved dialysis lines for children. 

Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff universities and Imperial College London are among the academic institutions whose work will benefit from the funding.

Director of research operations at the charity Elaine Davies said that, clinically, too little had changed for patients in many years. She added that the projects would help to shape the future of kidney research.    

Funding collaborator Kidney Wales will also be enabled to award two PhD studentships in Wales, added KW managing director Ross Evans. 

For more information on the 14 winning projects click here.