Fall 2024/Winter 2025

Research highlights from the BC Renal network

Study identifies improved chances of a successful second kidney transplant

A new study shows that some patients who have experienced prior kidney transplant failure and have high levels of antibodies (referred to as “highly sensitized”) may benefit from staying on immunosuppressant medication. This is because doing so could improve their chances of being matched with a subsequent kidney and their bodies accepting the new transplant.                              

When someone receives a transplant, their immune system will often develop antibodies that recognize the new organ as foreign and attack it, which is why transplant recipients must take medication that lowers their immune system activity (immunosuppressants). Some people produce few antibodies, while others produce a lot.

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Results of standard and newer kidney function equations show significant variation

Researchers who compared the 2009 equation used in British Columbia for estimating kidney function to a newer version have discovered the newer version estimates higher kidney function. The results, published in Kidney International Reports, may hold important implications for determining a person’s stage of kidney disease and how they should be monitored.

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Significant findings of childhood to adulthood hypertension study will help inform kidney disease study

A new study shows children with hypertension (high blood pressure) are more than two times as likely to go on to experience a major cardiovascular complication by early adulthood compared to children without hypertension. The results, published in JAMA Pediatrics, may hold important implications for children with chronic kidney disease who have hypertension too.

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Kidney care providers voice strong environmental concerns and point to future solutions

Two new studies outline how Canadian kidney care providers feel about the environmental impacts of kidney care, and ways in which they could lower the amount of associated greenhouse gas emissions and waste.

Kidney replacement therapies are essential for tens of thousands of patients across the country, but dialysis options are associated with large amounts of carbon emissions and plastic waste.

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Survey identifies opportunities for better understanding of kidney transplant referral process

Before a patient can be referred for a kidney transplant in British Columbia, there are numerous steps for both the individual and for multiple health-care providers to complete.A survey of kidney care providers and patients from across the province shows while a substantial portion of respondents understand many aspects of the process, there are opportunities to further improve communication, education and coordination.

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Researcher profile: Dr. Mark Elliott

For many people living with chronic kidney disease, the underlying reasons for their condition remain unknown. Dr. Mark Elliott is a researcher with the University of British Columbia who is working towards unravelling these mysteries for people whose kidney disease may be genetic, with the ultimate goal of finding new, potentially curative treatments.

Elliott says he was first drawn to nephrology when he saw the long-term, meaningful relationships that kidney doctors form with patients and their families. He completed nephrology training at the University of Calgary in Alberta and then a three-year fellowship in precision medicine and genetics in nephrology at Columbia University in New York. Throughout his time in New York, his thoughts were back with patients in his home country.

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All PHSA-affiliated researchers and research staff: Submit your annual conflict of interest declaration

  • If you don’t have any conflicts to declare, it’s still important to capture this in your annual conflict of interest declaration.
  • Even if you've submitted a conflict of interest declaration elsewhere, such as a university, PHSA requires a separate conflict of interest declaration related to your PHSA roles and responsibilities.

Not sure if this applies to you? Please see PHSA’s Conflict of Interest in Research page to learn more.

Recent publications by BC kidney researchers:

Did you know?
BC Renal has a research section on our website. Learn more: Our Research
See PHSA’s research section for additional information and resources: Research at PHSA

Who We Are:
Kidney care professionals and patient partners across BC are engaged in a broad range of local, provincial and international research projects, many in collaboration with BC's educational and research institutions. Their work is frequently published in peer-reviewed journals.

Why We Do It:
● To facilitate/conduct quality research studies
● To support knowledge translation
● To foster local, national and international research collaborations
● To facilitate training and mentoring of young physicians and scientists

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We acknowledge with gratitude that our BC Renal offices are located on the traditional, unceded territory of the Coast Salish, home of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish peoples, as well as the Métis chartered communities of the Lower Mainland