Simulator-based training to improve dialysis needle skills for patients with kidney failure
Official title: Development and Validation of a Simulator-based Fundamental Skills Curriculum for Hemodialysis Cannulation Skills Training
Funded at Sojourn Medtech LLC · NIH-11409703 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new simulator-based curriculum will train dialysis care providers to position and insert needles more safely and consistently for people with end-stage kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sojourn Medtech LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pendleton, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $905,234 |
| NIH project number | 1R44DK148334-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11409703 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with end-stage kidney disease receiving hemodialysis and treated at clinics using arteriovenous fistula access.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not using arteriovenous fistula or not undergoing cannulation may not directly benefit from this training.
What this research studies
This project creates a hands-on, simulator-driven training program for dialysis nurses and patient care technicians. It aims to standardize how cannulation is performed and track progress with objective metrics. The goal is to reduce needle-related injuries, pain, and vascular access damage, improving the safety and reliability of two-needle cannulations during thrice-weekly treatments. Training will be personalized to each learner's strengths and weaknesses to accelerate skill development. The work combines simulation with benchmarking to guide best practices in clinical care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer cannulation complications, less pain, and more reliable dialysis access.
How similar studies have gone: Previous simulator-based training in other procedures has reduced errors and improved outcomes, but this project applies the approach specifically to dialysis cannulation with structured competency metrics.
Where this research is happening
-
Sojourn Medtech LLC
Pendleton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petersen, Lydia — Sojourn Medtech LLC
- Study coordinator: Petersen, Lydia
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.