Telehealth for rural patients with end-stage kidney disease
Official title: Evaluating the role of telehealth in patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD)
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11415422 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-researcher at a major university is studying how telehealth can help people with advanced kidney disease in rural areas access care and stay on track for transplantation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $144,612 |
| NIH project number | 5K08HS028476-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415422 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Rural adults with end-stage kidney disease who are navigating nephrology care and transplant evaluation.
✕Less likely to help
Rural ESKD patients without access to telehealth infrastructure or those not positioned to benefit from remote care may see limited advantages.
What this research studies
This project examines how using telehealth affects access to nephrology care, the speed of kidney transplant evaluation, and overall outcomes for rural patients with end-stage kidney disease. It will compare telehealth to traditional in-office visits and analyze cost, utilization, and quality of life. The study also asks patients and providers about what helps or hinders using telehealth in rural settings, with a focus on practical policy implications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could expand telehealth options to rural ESKD patients, improving access, care quality, and cost-effectiveness.
How similar studies have gone: There is growing evidence that telehealth can support nephrology care, but this project aims to fill gaps specific to rural ESKD populations and cost-effectiveness.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adler, Joel Thomas — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Adler, Joel Thomas
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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.