Virtual coaching for kidney transplant candidates and their support networks
Official title: Virtual coaching for potential kidney transplant candidates and their social support networks
Funded at Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute · NIH-11017850 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a virtual coaching program to help people with end-stage kidney disease and their families understand and navigate the kidney transplant process, especially for those from underserved communities, so they can get the support they need to improve their chances of receiving a transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $263,005 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135730-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11017850 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with end-stage kidney disease who are on dialysis and may benefit from a kidney transplant, particularly those from low socioeconomic backgrounds or underrepresented racial/ethnic groups.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently on dialysis or those who do not have end-stage kidney disease may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a virtual coaching program designed to assist individuals with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and their social support networks in navigating the transplant process. The program aims to address barriers that prevent patients from being listed for kidney transplants, particularly focusing on those from underserved communities. By providing tailored support and education, the intervention seeks to improve understanding and access to transplant options, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. The approach includes assessing the feasibility and acceptability of the coaching model to ensure it meets the needs of patients and their families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase the number of patients from underserved communities who are listed for kidney transplants, improving their quality of life and survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that interventions targeting both patients and their support networks can improve access to transplant, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hart, Allyson — Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Hart, Allyson
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Characterization of a LILRB3 SNP cluster and its link to kidney transplant outcomes
A study in kidney transplant recipients looks at genetic factors that may be tied to higher risk of graft failure.
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.