Kidney Clinical Research Unit (KCRU)

Improving renal health through innovation, discovery and translation.

The Lilibeth Caberto Kidney Clinical Research Unit (KCRU) is a 4,000 square-foot facility located at Victoria Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). The KCRU is dedicated to clinical research in the areas of kidney health, kidney disease and treatments of dialysis and kidney transplantation.

About

Dr. Christopher McIntyre is the Director of the KCRU and Robert Lindsay Chair of Dialysis Research and Innovation. The KCRU fosters research conducted by an integrated group of over 30 clinicians, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, research staff and trainees, including post-doctoral fellows and graduate, medical and undergraduate students. KCRU hosts a collection of the highest quality researchers from across Canada and around the world, many of whom are enrolled in MsC/PhD programs within Western University. Cross cutting research into the fields of Critical Care, Cardiology, Hepatology and Neuroscience is a major theme, and facilitated by cross appointments into other multiple faculties at Western University.

KCRU fosters strong ongoing collaboration with the ICES Kidney Dialysis and Transplant Program sited adjacent to the KCRU facility, and under the Direction of Dr Amit Garg. The two programs have come together to develop and deliver the MY TEMP trial of dialysis fluid cooling. At over 7000 patients this is the largest study of dialysis patients ever performed.

As well as having a strong local research community, the KCRU has developed an ever growing network of national and international research and healthcare connections to collaborate and share information with in order to increase knowledge of renal health issues. The KCRU continues to move forward and grow with the hope that the efforts of research will improve the lives and health of people with renal health issues.

Research

Key Methodologies and Research Disciplines

Key methodologies and research disciplines include applied imaging, advanced developments of multi-modal imaging (ultrasound, ultra-Slice CT, PET and MRI) population surveys, analyses of health administrative data, randomized controlled trials, systematic review and meta-analysis, knowledge translation, health policy, health informatics and physician education.

Program Themes

Currently, there are over 70 active clinical research studies being coordinated through the Kidney Clinical Research Unit. Some of the larger program themes include:

• Dialysis induced multi-organ injury
• New dialysis techniques, including wearable devices
• The role of hydration in chronic kidney disease
• Living kidney donation
• Renal effects of E. coli O157:H7
• Plasma exchange randomized trials
• Peri-operative medicine and the kidney
• Vascular access
• Renal informatics

Contact

For more information, contact the KCRU:
Phone: 519-685-8502
Email: @email