Improving decision-making for older adults considering kidney transplants
Official title: Strengthening Shared Decision-Making for Older Adults with Kidney Failure Considering Kidney Transplant
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11018510 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $185,931 |
| NIH project number | 5K23DK129777-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11018510 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who are considering kidney transplantation due to kidney failure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients under the age of 65 or those who are not considering kidney transplantation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the decision-making process for older adults who are evaluating the possibility of kidney transplants. It focuses on understanding the experiences and perspectives of these patients, their families, and healthcare providers to create a more person-centered and equitable transplant evaluation process. By conducting interviews and gathering qualitative data, the research seeks to identify the challenges and uncertainties faced by older adults, ultimately facilitating better communication and shared decision-making. The goal is to empower patients to navigate the complexities of kidney transplant evaluations more effectively.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved patient understanding and satisfaction in the kidney transplant evaluation process for older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that shared decision-making approaches can significantly improve patient outcomes and satisfaction in various medical contexts, suggesting potential success for this approach in kidney transplantation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Butler, Catherine R — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Butler, Catherine R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Helping kidney transplant candidates make informed decisions about organ offers
This study is all about helping people waiting for kidney transplants feel more confident and informed when deciding about organ offers, by bringing together patients, their families, and doctors to talk things through and make the process less stressful.
-
Microbial clues to diagnose and predict infections in kidney transplant patients
A patient-focused project will look for microbial biomarkers in stool, blood, and urine to help doctors predict and diagnose infections in people who have had a kidney transplant.
-
Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
This grant explores why certain kidney transplant rejections don’t respond to standard treatments and what immune cells in the graft are driving that resistance.
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Complement-Bound Exosomes and Kidney Transplant Immunity
This project studies how kidney transplant injury and rejection happen after surgery and whether blocking certain immune pathways during organ preservation could improve transplant outcomes.
-
Blood vessel signals predicting heart problems after kidney transplant
This project studies blood markers and tissue patterns after kidney transplants to identify which patients are at highest risk of cardiovascular problems.
-
Understanding how BK virus links infection to kidney transplant rejection
This project looks at how BK polyomavirus reactivation affects kidney transplant patients and aims to use pre-transplant T cell information to tailor immunosuppression and monitoring.
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.