Many researchers have begun vital work to understand the impact of COVID-19 on all those affected by kidney disease. The results of these studies can be used to better understand how to get the right support in place for people with kidney disease during the outbreak and afterwards. It is possible to join many of these studies from home.
We have listed details of these and other studies in which you may be interested in participating. We will add to this as we hear of new research opportunities. The projects and study teams are independent of Kidney Care UK and it is best to contact the teams directly for more information about each study. All studies have received independent ethical approval.
Currently available opportunities
CONVINCE - The comparison of high-dose Haemodiafiltration (HDF) versus Haemodialysis (HD)
The CONVINCE study aims to determine the best possible dialysis treatment by comparing high-dose HDF versus conventional high-flux HD treatment by carrying out a prospective randomised controlled clinical trial addressing clinical endpoints, quality of life and a cost-utility analysis.
Study type
Clinical trial
Who is able to participate?
A subject must meet ALL of the following criteria in order to participate:
- Signed and dated written Informed Consent Form obtained from the subject or his/her guardian or in accordance with local regulations.
- Male or female aged ≥ 18 years.
- Diagnosed with ESKD.
- Established on haemodialysis for 3 months or longer.
- Likely to achieve high-dose HDF (≥23 L in post-dilution mode), according to the protocol (Appendix I).
- Willing to have a dialysis session with duration of ≥ 4 hours, three times a week.
- Understands study procedures and is able to comply.
Where is the study happening?
Countries within Europe
Open and close dates of recruitment
November 2018; early 2021
How do I get involved?
- study progress can be viewed on the Convince Trial website
- some UK centres are taking part in the study
- and you could ask your local centre whether they are one of the sites.
Summary
Information about end-stage kidney disease
End-stage kidney disease
End stage kidney disease (ESKD) ranks among the most severe chronic, non-communicable diseases world-wide.
Patient quality of life and outcomes
Despite improvements in dialysis machine and dialyzer technology, and the introduction of newer drugs, the survival of patients with kidney failure treated by dialysis remains high, and improvement in survival has not improved as much when compared to other chronic conditions, including some of the more common cancers.
In addition, many kidney dialysis patients feel tired and lack energy. This impacts on their quality of life, and the rates of self-reported depression are increased in kidney dialysis patients.
Dialysis
Over the past decade, an alternative to standard haemodialysis (HD) has become available ‒ haemodiafiltration (HDF). HDF uses the same dialyser, and dialysis water, but differs from standard HD, as the dialysis machine takes more fluid away from the blood as it passes through the dialyser, but then replaces this fluid by returning the same amount with dialysis water, so the additional amount of fluid removed is balanced by the fluid replaced.
HD removes water soluble toxic compounds that accumulate in patients with kidney failure mainly by diffusion, and a smaller amount by convection. HDF differs by increasing the amount removed by convection. Diffusion is very efficient at removing small molecules, but not so good at removing larger molecules, whereas convection is more efficient at removing larger molecules.
Although on one hand HDF improves the range of water-soluble toxic compounds removed, unlike the healthy kidney, neither HD nor HDF can offer selective removal of molecules, so both treatments can potentially lead to the loss of important molecules, such as vitamins and some proteins. So, although HDF increases the range of water-soluble toxic compounds removed, it could also lead to an increased loss of important molecules.
Studies on Haemodialysis & Haemodiafiltration
There have been several studies comparing HD and HDF, but many of these have been too small to be able to come to any firm conclusion as to whether HD and HDF are equivalent treatments, or one is better than the other. Statisticians have tried to combine these studies to get enough patients to compare HD and HDF, but once again these analyses have failed to demonstrate a difference. However, the studies included in these analyses often differ, so making comparisons difficult.
As such, there is current uncertainty as to whether HDF offers any benefit over standard HD, or whether treatments are equivalent, or if HD is better for patients than HDF.
The CONVINCE study has been designed to answer whether HD or HDF offers patients a better treatment, or whether treatments are equivalent, by enrolling a large number of kidney dialysis patients, currently dialysing in Europe.
The CONVINCE study will collect information from patients about quality of life, as well as information about hospital admissions and patient survival.
Results from the CONVINCE study will be used to:
Develop best practises and new guidelines for doctors and dialysis centres on the most effective and efficient type of dialysis for patients with kidney failure.
Has this study received ethical approval?
13/04/2018 candidate number 28748
Netherlands Trial register (NTR) 7138
Info on Trial Register website
Lead investigators
- Peter J. Blankestijn, University Medical Center Utrecht
- Mark Woodward, The George Institute for Global Health, Oxford
- Andrew Davenport, University College of London
- Diederick E. Grobbee, Julius Clinical
- Bernard Canaud, Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
- Fernando Macario, Diaverum Renal Services Group
- Giovanni Strippoli, University of Bari Aldo Moro
- Claudia Barth, B. Braun Avitum AG
- Mathias Rose, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Who is funding the study?
European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
More information
COVIDENCE-UK study
Aim of the study
Currently, the risk factors, adverse outcomes, impacts on mental and economic wellbeing and the natural history of COVID-19 in the UK population are largely unknown. The COVIDENCE UK Study will collect data from volunteers around the UK to answer scientific questions surrounding COVID-19.
Study type
Online questionnaire study
Who is able to participate?
You can take part if you are 16 or over and living in the UK.
Where is the study happening?
It is all done online from your own home
Open and closing dates of recruitment
The study will be ongoing for five years and you can sign up at anytime, although the earlier you sign-up the more valuable data can be collected.
How do I get involved?
You can sign up on the study website
Summary
The COVIDENCE UK national research study is designed to find out whether people with conditions such as kidney disease may be at increased risk of coronavirus disease. The researchers are looking to recruit a broad mix of people from all over the UK, including those who have NOT had coronavirus infection, and those who HAVE already had proven or suspected coronavirus infection.
The study will involve filling in an on-line questionnaire to collect information about your lifestyle, diet, longstanding conditions and prescribed treatment. Completion takes 30-60 minutes. After that, you will be contacted monthly via email to report possible symptoms of coronavirus disease. The data you provide will be linked to your medical records, to allow the study team to investigate whether coronavirus infection may affect long-term health.
Has this study received ethical approval?
This research has been ethically approved by Leicester South Research Ethics Committee (ref 20/EM/0117).
Lead investigators
Professor Adrian Martineau – Queen Mary University of London
Who is funding the study
Using ACT to help people live well on dialysis
Study name
Patient consultation about the development of support materials to help people live well on dialysis.
Aim of the study
The aim of the study is to get feedback from people receiving hospital haemodialysis about some new materials that use stories about people’s experiences on dialysis to help patients adjust to their treatment and live the best life possible in spite of the difficulties caused by dialysis.
Study type
This is a qualitative study involving telephone or video call interviews to consult people receiving hospital haemodialysis about how support materials and information should be specifically adapted for dialysis patients.
Who is able to participate?
To take part you must be over the age of 18, have received hospital dialysis for at least 90 days in the last two years (or presently on home haemodialysis but have previously received hospital haemodialysis) and able to converse in English.
Where is the study happening?
Participants can take part from their own homes or any suitable location provided they have internet access and/or a phone signal. They will be emailed the materials and be given 24-72 hours to read them before being contacted again to arrange an interview at a time convenient to them. The interviews will be conducted by telephone or video conferencing and will be audio recorded.
If participants would like to take part but are not able to answer the online questions or receive the draft materials by email, then we can make alternative arrangements. For example, we can ask them some questions over the phone, send the materials to them in the post, or let someone they know provide information and feedback on their behalf.
Open and close dates of recruitment?
Open: 08/06/2020
Close: 02/10/2020
How do I get involved?
Information about the study and guidance on how to take part is available on the Derby University website
Summary
We are looking for people currently having hospital haemodialysis to take part in a research study to develop specially designed support materials that use stories about people’s experiences on dialysis to help patients live better on dialysis. We have produced draft versions of the stories and would like to consult some patients about how they can be improved and made more relevant before we test them out in a trial. People who take part in this consultation will be sent the draft stories to read and will then talk to a researcher about them in a phone or video call. The feedback we get will be used to make final adaptations and get the stories ready for the trial.
Lead investigators
- Professor James Elander – University of Derby
- Ms Romaana Kapadi – University of Derby
- Ms Carol Stalker – University of Derby
- Professor Kathryn Mitchell – University of Derby
- Dr Emma Coyne – Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (Nottingham City Hospital)
- Professor Maarten Taal – University of Nottingham (Royal Derby Hospital Campus)
- Professor Nick Selby – University of Nottingham (Royal Derby Hospital Campus)
Who is funding the study?
The British Renal Society and Kidney Care UK
More information
For further information or to discuss this research study please contact any of the following:
University of Derby
- Professor James Elander (Professor of Psychology/Chief Investigator) – [email protected]
- Ms Romaana Kapadi (Research Assistant in Health Psychology) – [email protected]
- Ms Carol Stalker (Post Graduate Research Student) – [email protected]
*Please note that the research team are currently working remotely and are therefore only available via email.
Other research opportunities
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) ‘Be part of research’ website lists COVID-19 research opportunities it is funding.
Oxford University is running a large study of potential treatments for COVID-19, called the RECOVERY trial. It is open to kidney patients with COVID-19.
The Join Zoe COVID Symptom Study asks people to report on their health on a daily basis via a smartphone app. This will allow the researchers to track any symptoms of COVID-19 that people are experiencing and understand what some of the early symptoms could be.
PROTECT, an existing long-term online study looking at ageing, has opened a new arm to study the impact of COVID-19 isolation on the physical and mental health of people aged over 50, and find new ways to support them.
Genomics England is working with the NHS and people who have had COVID-19 to understand whether there are genetic factors that mean that some people experience severe symptoms whilst others experience only mild symptoms.