Project information
Making EVERY Kidney Count
Kidney Research UK wants to accelerate ground-breaking research into improving transplantation. We want to save more lives, sooner. The charity has the expertise to select the best researchers in the UK, to work together on a research programmes to make kidney transplants work better and last longer
Three years
Charity information: Kidney Research UK

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Need
Need
There are no cures for kidney disease and a transplant is currently the best treatment we have. But one person dies every day in the UK waiting for a new kidney. 90% of the people on the transplant waiting list, that’s more than 6,000 patients, are waiting; many are children. Even when successful, most transplants only last 10-15 years before they stop working. Patients have to take many drugs to stop their body rejecting the kidney, but these lead to a risk of cancer and other diseases.
Solution
World-class experts will help Kidney Research UK select the leading research teams in the UK, using a competitive process to find the very best ideas. Clinicians and scientists will collaborate across centres of excellence to address the current problems with kidney transplantation. If we can make kidney transplants work better and last longer, more people will benefit from life-saving treatment, and we will reduce the transplant waiting list.
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Aims
Aim 1
To increase the number of successfully transplanted kidneys.
All our aims & activities connect.Activities
» Raise the additional income over a three-year appeal period to fund a number of inter-linked ground-breaking projects.
» Encourage collaboration and select the top research teams, on merit, to deliver the best kidney research in the UK to focus on this
» Start the first research programmes as quickly as we can
» Share the research findings with health professionals to encourage the take-up of new techniques to save more lives more quickly
Measure the increase in kidney transplants, within our projects, that do not fail within a short period
Aim 2
Make transplanted kidneys work for longer
Activities
» Raise the additional income over a three-year appeal period to fund a number of inter-linked ground-breaking projects.
» Encourage collaboration and select the top research teams, on merit, to deliver the best kidney research in the UK to focus on this
» Start the first research programmes as quickly as we can
» Share the research findings with health professionals to encourage the take-up of new techniques to save more lives more quickly
Project transplanted kidney survival rates from our research data
Aim 3
Improve treatments used to stop donated kidneys being rejected by the patient's body
Activities
» Raise the additional income over a three-year appeal period to fund a number of inter-linked ground-breaking projects.
» Encourage collaboration and select the top research teams, on merit, to deliver the best kidney research in the UK to focus on this
» Start the first research programmes as quickly as we can
» Share the research findings with health professionals to encourage the take-up of new techniques to save more lives more quickly
Demonstrate the scientific evidence of reduced rejection rates
Aim 4
Reduce the time patients spend waiting for a donor kidney
Activities
» Raise the additional income over a three-year appeal period to fund a number of inter-linked ground-breaking projects.
» Encourage collaboration and select the top research teams, on merit, to deliver the best kidney research in the UK to focus on this
» Start the first research programmes as quickly as we can
» Share the research findings with health professionals to encourage the take-up of new techniques to save more lives more quickly
Monitor the time kidney patients are on the transplant waiting list. Monitor increased rate of transplant success and estimate increases in use of donated organs
Aim 5
See real patient benefits in five to seven years time
Activities
» Raise the additional income over a three-year appeal period to fund a number of interlinked ground-breaking projects.
» Encourage collaboration and select the top research teams, on merit, to deliver the best kidney research in the UK to focus on this
» Start the first research programmes as quickly as we can
» Share the research findings with health professionals to encourage the take-up of new techniques to save more lives more quickly
Findings of the research are published and presented at appropriate conferences. Health decision makers are briefed on our findings to encourage adoption of new techniques
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Impact
Impact
More kidneys will be available for transplantation.
Better surgical techniques for transplantation will increase donated kidney short term survivability.
Profiling increased tolerance of the donated kidney, leading to increasing the average life of a donated kidney to beyond 15 years.
Ultimately, we will reduce the number of individuals that die, as more patients with kidney failure will be able to have successful kidney transplants – we will share this information globally.
Risk
Risks: we don’t raise enough funds; attract the best research proposals to meet the aims; research is delayed.
Actions: we have established an Appeal Board of seven members who have each pledged to raise £150,000, and several Appeal Ambassadors who have each pledged to raise £30,000.
We have already carried out an “Expressions of Interest” call to the research community that has generated high quality proposals which match the project aims. We closely manage research projects.Reporting
We will report progress on our website, through supporter emails, our supporter magazine and the annual report. We will talk about the project at supporter receptions. We will meet with Board members and ambassadors regularly to support them, and arrange visits for them to meet with the researchers.
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Budget
Budget - Project Cost: £3,000,000
Loading graph....Amount Heading Description £1,500,000 Programme Grant Programme grants are between £750,000 & £1.5 million. £750,000 Programme Grant Grants can cover salary of Investigators, technician,nurses & other professionals £750,000 Programme Grant Grants can cover costs of laboratory consumables & specific equipment Current Funding / Pledges
Source Amount Appeal Board Members £1,050,000 Conditional Appeal Ambassadors £150,000 Conditional Another kidney charity £150,000 Conditional Lead Gift £100,000 Conditional ICAP Christmas Auction 2013 £30,000 Conditional -
Background
Location
The project will take place in several research centres across the UK. Kidney Research UK historically has funded the best science presented, and this project will be no exception. The locations will depend on the where the best teams and research proposals are selected, for eample it could be London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff or another centre in the UK. The strength of this approach is that the funding goes straight to the research, rather than buildings and infrastructure
Beneficiaries
Anyone waiting for a kidney transplant, or already transplanted. Over 3 million people are at risk of kidney disease. For those who progress to kidney failure there are no cures. There are more than 53,000 people with kidney failure and the total is rising by 4% every year. Although dialysis is a treatment to keep you alive, it is often described as “life support with no life”. Transplantation is the best option, so success will change the lives of significant numbers of adults and children.
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Why Us?
Why Us?
Kidney Research UK is the largest charity dedicated to funding research into kidney disease. We have a well-respected heritage of over 50 years of supporting and delivering high quality research that has improved the lives of kidney patients. We have a proven governance approach which is recognised and supported by some of the top renal experts in the country. We have a track record in collaborative working and influence the research agenda in the UK.
Read more about the Charity running this project.
People
Sandra Currie
CEO of Kidney Research UK. Networks with potential and existing significant supporters of the appeal. Encourages focused team approach at the charity.
Michael Nation
Director of Development at the charity will oversee the whole appeal for the charity.
John Bartlett
A trustee of Kidney Research UK who is chairing the EVERY Appeal Board, working hard to help us raise funds.
Suzanne Baines
Major Gifts Officer, who is responsible for co-ordinating the EVERY appeal, providing support to all involved.
Making kidneys count