Impact of disability protections on kidney transplant access for people with developmental disabilities
Official title: Impact of ableism and state laws designed to mitigate ableism on organ transplant equity for kidney transplant candidates with intellectual or developmental disabilities
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11388653 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide study checks whether anti-discrimination laws help people with intellectual or developmental disabilities get kidney transplants sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $491,572 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD116245-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388653 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are candidates for kidney transplantation and their health systems.
✕Less likely to help
People without IDD or those not involved in kidney transplant evaluation may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will analyze national data to see if state laws against disability-based discrimination in organ transplantation reduce barriers for people with developmental disabilities. Researchers will compare transplant access and time on dialysis between patients with and without IDD, using Medicare claims and local EHR data. They will look at factors that affect access and reasons for exclusion to understand where gaps remain. The work uses advanced statistical methods to isolate the effect of laws from other influences and will inform policy and clinical practice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide laws and policies to improve fair access to kidney transplantation for people with IDD.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests policy changes can impact access, but this study directly links disability protections to transplant equity in IDD.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hand, Brittany Nicole — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Hand, Brittany Nicole
Related research
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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.