Virtually supervised exercise program for people waiting for a kidney transplant
Virtually Supervised Exercise for Kidney Transplant Candidates
This project offers a home-based, virtually supervised exercise program to help people on the kidney transplant waitlist keep and rebuild muscle and stay more mobile.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11400620 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would do guided exercise sessions at home that are supervised remotely by an instructor to help me stick with the program despite dialysis schedules. The program focuses on improving muscle strength, walking, balance, and everyday function that often decline while waiting for a transplant. Remote supervision adds accountability to boost adherence compared with past home programs that were hard to follow. The research team will deliver the exercises and track progress so they can see whether the virtual format keeps people active and functioning better before transplant.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults on the kidney transplant waitlist, including those receiving dialysis who are experiencing muscle loss or trouble with walking, balance, or getting up from a chair.
Not a fit: People who are already very active, are not on a transplant waitlist, or who have medical contraindications to exercise (for example unstable heart disease) may not benefit from or be eligible for this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help waitlisted patients preserve or regain strength and mobility, lower the chance of waitlist removal, and improve recovery after transplant.
How similar studies have performed: Previous home-based exercise efforts often had low adherence, while supervised programs have improved adherence in related patient groups, so applying virtual supervision is a promising but still-developing approach.
Where this research is happening
Palo Alto, United States
- Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research — Palo Alto, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Christine Kee — Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research
- Study coordinator: Liu, Christine Kee
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 below.