Kidney disease affects more than 8% of the UK adult population, with a high proportion from ethnic minority communities. Although many kidney research studies are undertaken, enrolment of kidney patients into research is still low.

The DRRC wants to bring together patients and carers or family members affected by kidney disease to work with us to develop our research here in the NCA.

We will work with you to provide support and training if needed. We are developing a team of people with lived experience of kidney disease including those caring for someone with kidney disease. Your lived experience is important so that research is focused on what is important to people affected by kidney disease.

We want to have representation from most of the different groups of people treated in the kidney service. We would like to address and improve healthcare inequalities including people living in the most deprived areas, ethnic minority communities and other underserved health groups. We will consider the different needs of different groups so in the future a balanced representation within our research portfolio is achieved.

If you join some of the activities, you will be involved in or can opt to support the following:

1. Helping to identify research topics.
2. Working with the research team to ensure the way the research is being conducted is relevant and appropriate for patients, carers, and families.
3. Be an applicant on research grants.
4. Help in writing information for patients, carers, and families.
5. Help to find ways to promote and encourage more people to participate in the research we do.
6. Help in the write up of results of research and ensure dissemination of research findings to all the people who will benefit from the information.

If you are interested in any of this work, please get in touch! You do not need to have any medical qualifications or specialist knowledge. We want to hear about your experience whether it’s as a patient, carer or family member.