Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Honorary Consultant co-authors first ever UK renal research strategy

Professor Adrian Woolf is a co-author of a UK-first strategy, which unites professional and patient communities and lays out plans and priorities for renal research.

The strategy outlines key areas of focus in renal research including four strategic aims:

• Increase engagement of professionals, patients and the public with kidney research
• Capitalise on the full spectrum of research approaches to ensure a well-balanced portfolio that includes underlying mechanisms, prevention, treatment and impact
• Support the research training and career development of all contributors to renal research, to build sustainable research capability and capacity

It highlights the organisational components involved with and supporting renal research; outlining the main funding bodies and charting the current strengths of UK renal research.

Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Nephrology and Professor of Paediatric Science at The University of Manchester, Adrian Woolf, said:

We believe that this report is the first in the UK for any clinical speciality, let alone renal, that has been distilled from the opinions of all stakeholders, including patients, funders and researchers.

Professor Woolf is the Chairman of the Kidney Research UK Research Strategy Committee and co-authored the pivotal document alongside seven other contributors from across the UK. The strategy also included inputs from more than 150 renal professionals and patients.

The document details main evidence gaps in the renal research area, based on patient’s thoughts and feedback. Authors also give recommendations for maximising successes and addressing priorities while overcoming the challenges associated with research in the 21st century.

Renal Association President, Bruce Hendry added: “I am delighted to welcome the first UK Renal Research Strategy. It takes a comprehensive look at UK renal research across the entire spectrum and describes four strategic aims that overarch a set of 13 recommendations to move us forward, with suggestions for their implementation. It is meant to be a starting, not an end point, since it is axiomatic that without research, human health cannot improve.”

To find out more and read the full document visit the Kidney Research UK website.

Formal publication details: Karet Frankl FE, Coward RJ, Gallagher H, Hilton R, Loud F, Modi K, Ormandy P, Woolf AS. UK Renal Research Strategy. UK Kidney Research Consortium. 1-37, 2016. ISBN 978-1-5262-0191-1.