Easier access to kidney care for people at high risk of kidney failure
Official title: mproving Access to Nephrology Treatment and Care among Patients at Greatest Risk for Kidney Failure
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11371329 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program will use care teams, clinic changes, and patient support to help adults with advanced chronic kidney disease get timely specialist care, permanent dialysis access, and education before they need dialysis or a transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $767,897 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK137269-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371329 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with advanced chronic kidney disease who are nearing the need for dialysis or a transplant and who receive care at participating clinics are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children, people with early-stage CKD who are not near needing kidney replacement therapy, and patients already well linked to nephrology care may not see direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If you have advanced chronic kidney disease, this project will work with clinics and health systems to speed up diagnosis, referrals to kidney specialists, and planning for kidney replacement therapy. The team will implement a multi-level set of actions—like electronic health record prompts, care coordination, patient education, and clinic workflow changes—based on the Collaborative Chronic Care Model. Success will be measured by outcomes such as having permanent vascular access ready, starting treatment as an outpatient rather than in the hospital, and getting preemptive transplants when possible. The work is led by Emory University and will be carried out through participating clinics and partners.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have fewer emergency dialysis starts, better preparation for kidney replacement therapy, and improved health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Care models like the Collaborative Chronic Care Model have improved outcomes in other chronic diseases and smaller CKD efforts have shown promise, but wide-scale implementation for the ESKD transition remains limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arriola, Kimberly Ruth Jacob — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Arriola, Kimberly Ruth Jacob
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving Access to Kidney Care for People at Highest Risk of Kidney Failure
A patient-facing program to help people at high risk of kidney failure get timely nephrology care and options for kidney replacement.
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Improving Access to Nephrology Care for People at Highest Risk of Kidney Failure
This grant aims to help adults with advanced kidney disease get timely nephrology care and better options for kidney replacement.
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This study is all about helping older adults who are thinking about getting a kidney transplant by listening to their experiences and those of their families and doctors, so we can make the process easier and more supportive for everyone involved.
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This study looks at how Hurricane Maria affected people with kidney failure in Puerto Rico by making it harder for them to get the dialysis they need, and it aims to understand how this has impacted their health and care over time, so we can better prepare for future disasters.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.