Our Vision and Accomplishments

Transforming lives through innovation and discovery

The Kidney Research Institute is a collaboration between Northwest Kidney Centers and UW Medicine OUR TRANSITIONING GOAL TO A NEW ERA To establish a leading clinical OF GROWTH research endeavor focusing on AND DISCOVERY early detection, prevention and As we come to the end of our startup phase, we continue to work to find better ways to treatment of kidney disease detect kidney disease, to slow its progression and its complications. and to create optimal treatments.

Making every dollar count Thanks to generous donor support, our OUR interdisciplinary teams of top-notch scientists and clinical practitioners aggressively seek VISION new approaches to identifying, preventing and treating the kidney disease epidemic. For every eligible patient with

kidney disease to be informed The need for research Dr. Jonathan Himmelfarb, first director about, participate in and benefit For millions of people with kidney disease, of the Kidney Research Institute and from our research. kidney failure is not the only concern. Kidney a University of Washington professor disease is linked to premature cardiovascular of medicine, also holds the Joseph W. disease, fractures, infections and diminished Eschbach, M.D. Endowed Chair in physical and mental functioning. Kidney Research at UW Medicine. OUR Carrying out our mission Dr. Himmelfarb has been a leader in clinical trials in the kidney disease Ultimately, we aim to translate our population, serves on expert panels for MISSION discoveries into direct and improved care for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration To conduct research that can the patient. We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Committee of top thought leaders, and Veterans Health Administration, has improve the lives of those with and a Council that keeps us in close touch leadership roles on National Institutes kidney disease. with patients, supporters and the Seattle of Health steering committees and is kidney community. a councilor of the American Society of Nephrology.

3 | MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR THE FOUNDATION FOR A KIDNEY A HISTORIC RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION INSTITUTE By providing seed money in 2006 to Through his leadership, form the KRI, nonprofit Northwest Kidney Dr. Belding H. Scribner forever Centers is furthering its own mission to changed the lives of patients promote the optimal health, quality of life and independence of people with kidney with kidney disease. disease through patient care, education and research.

Committed to making a di!erence in the lives of kidney patients through the work of the KRI, Northwest Kidney Centers’ continued support has made it possible for us to hire top investigators, develop research facilities, purchase laboratory equipment and connect our patients with promising research studies. “Daily we care for thousands of dialysis patients — reminded that and new discoveries has hindered optimal A life-changing discovery they wish they didn’t need dialysis, medical care and treatments to a!ected In 1960, Scribner and his colleagues individuals. Dedicating the best science to wish it was less time–consuming and developed the Scribner shunt — a blood study the clinical problems related to kidney want their children and neighbors to access device for hemodialysis. Changing disease was needed to truly make a di!erence. learn how to avoid kidney disease even kidney failure from a death sentence to a if they cannot. treatable condition, the Scribner shunt allows patients to receive lifesaving dialysis on a An institute just for We are encouraged by the KRI’s early long-term basis. Scribner, a UW Medicine kidney research successes but know we have a long faculty member, then founded Northwest That concept was pioneered in 2003 way to go in our quest to stop or cure Kidney Centers, the first outpatient dialysis by leadership from the University of kidney disease.” program in the world. Washington, Northwest Kidney Centers and the community. After years of planning, Joyce F. Jackson A lack of research we opened our doors in 2008, proud to build President and CEO The prevalence of kidney disease has on 48 years of history. Northwest Kidney Centers continued to rise steadily. Lack of research

4 | OUR HISTORY 5 | A V ITAL COLLABORATOR MILESTONES THROUGHOUT OUR EARLY YEARS

2010 2006 JULY– 2012 JUNE SEPTEMBER APRIL 2012 2009 The FDA Innovations Pathway The Kidney Research First faculty recruits: JULY selects a team including Seattle Institute forms with SEPTEMBER Jeremy Stuart 2010 New faculty recruit 2011 and the KRI to test a wearable approximately We obtain over Du!eld, M.D., Dr. Rajnish Mehrotra arrives OCTOBER artificial kidney $6 million in seed $10 million in research Ph.D. and Maryam SEPTEMBER from Harbor-UCLA Medical Open house attracts more money provided funding primarily from Afkarian, M.D., Ph.D., First international We open 1,500 square feet of Center to join the KRI and become than 200 visitors, with in large part by the National Institutes arrive from Harvard scholar, Hanne van new clinical research space at Harborview Medical Center’s guests attending seminars Northwest Kidney of Health (NIH) Medical School to Ballegooijen, arrives Northwest Kidney Centers’ 700 nephrology section head about current studies Centers join the KRI from Amsterdam Broadway facility in Seattle

2008 2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2012 JULY JANUARY SEPTEMBER FEBRUARY OCTOBER JUNE SEPTEMBER Dr. Jonathan We open 6,000 square More than $20 million Our first Learn @ More than 1,000 research subjects More than $30 million Work begins on “Kidney Himmelfarb feet of clinical research in research funding Lunch seminar from the community have been in research funding on a Chip,” a tissue becomes and o!ce space at obtained since founding educates enrolled in our studies to date awarded to date engineered human kidney inaugural director Harborview Medical community microphysiological system Our patient registry and Center members about biorepository are now active kidney disease and kidney research

6 | MILESTONES 7 | MILESTONES STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES: THE PLATFORM FOR THE YANKEES OF DISCOVERY KIDNEY RESEARCH Located at Harborview Bill Peckham found out he had kidney Medical Center, Northwest disease in 1985. He was 22 years old. After a preemptive transplant failed and he was Kidney Centers, University told future transplants would probably of Washington Medical have the same result, he realized he’d need Center and VA Puget Sound to use dialysis for the duration. Medical Center. “I was angry. I didn’t want to talk about it or even think about it.”

He worked to minimize his own burden of treatment, soon putting in his own dialysis needles and eventually moving to home investigators from Harvard, Vanderbilt Clinical research space dialysis. Supporting research has helped and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, “Seattle is the Yankees of Our research space allows investigators him keep up the fight against the disease among other facilities. kidney research. The city’s to work in multidisciplinary small teams. that turned his life upside down. Multiple examination rooms — complete with history of success in kidney Freezers equipment for cardiovascular physiologic Bill has now used dialysis for 21 years. He Our carefully inventoried freezers, innovation gives me faith that testing, body composition analyses was part of the original Northwest Kidney kept at -80°C, are capable of storing and supervised exercise programs — provide Centers task force that worked to create more discoveries will happen more than 300,000 biosamples. investigators space to work and meet the Kidney Research Institute. here. If we fund the Kidney with study participants. O"ce space Research Institute, we’ll get Core research laboratory A nearly 6,000-square-foot space at “I would sign up for anything. the results we need.” Harborview Medical Center includes our Our laboratory has equipment to measure I knew that I was benefiting concentrations of uremic toxins, metabolites, core laboratory as well as o"ces and Bill Peckham from people who volunteered growth factors, cytokines and kidney injury meeting rooms for research faculty, trainees, Living with kidney disease since 1985 biomarkers. As our mission is to collaborate statistical support sta!, administration, for research before me.” with others in the best interest of kidney laboratory personnel and clinical and research, we have shared our laboratory with translational research coordinators.

8 | RESEARCH FACILITIES 9 | BILL: A KIDNEY DISEASE SURVIVOR CLINICAL TRIALS These supplements are relatively safe, A long-time supporter of AND STUDIES inexpensive and widely available and thus kidney research may be a solution to reducing diabetic Highlights from four of Nancy Spaeth began dialysis in 1966 at the kidney disease. However, they also come age of 19. Dialysis was a scarce resource the more than 30 studies with potential harms: vitamin D could result then. As one of the lucky ones chosen currently in progress. in high blood calcium levels and kidney for dialysis by a 1960s committee, Spaeth stones while omega-3 fatty acids could give gave back by participating in research patients gastrointestinal discomfort and studies. Her participation furthered studies bleeding. Studying the risks and benefits of of the Scribner shunt, early dialyzers and these supplements in clinical trials is critical. erythropoietin, which produced the anemia drug Epogen. Role of diet and exercise in chronic kidney disease Lifestyle factors are root causes of chronic kidney disease development, progression and complications. This study will show if greater physical activity and a healthier diet lower the risk of chronic kidney disease progression and cardiovascular events in Our researchers work on trials and studies Diabetic kidney disease patients with moderate to severe CKD. designed to: vitamin D and omega-3 trial • Lessen the burden of cardiovascular This trial tests the e!ects of vitamin D and Blood and urine samples, as well as disease for dialysis patients omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils) on diabetic physical measurements like height, weight • D etect and treat early complications of kidney disease, the leading cause of and body composition, are collected from diabetic kidney disease end–stage renal disease. research subjects. Some participants meet • E valuate the role healthy lifestyle factors with a personal trainer three times a week can play in preventing complications of Nancy Spaeth credits her current health to Dr. Ian de Boer is principal investigator and some work with dietitians on creating a strong focus on diet and exercise. kidney disease of the study, which will enroll up to healthy eating habits. • S ee how genetics influences kidney health 1,500 people with type 2 diabetes. Each • Prevent, detect and treat complications participant will be assigned treatment with “I keep my salt intake under arising from acute kidney injury vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, both, or 1,000 mg per day as Dr. Scribner • E stablish novel kidney replacement neither for up to 5 years. taught me. I avoid fatty foods, therapies I cook from scratch and I read “We’ll measure urine albumin and estimated labels. I walk up and down stairs glomerular filtration rate before and after treatment to test the e!ects of each because staying fit and strong intervention on the kidneys,” says de Boer. are so important to health.”

10 | CLINICAL TRIALS AND STUDIES 11 | NANCY: A LONG-TIME SUPPORTER A NOVEL DEVICE STAYING POSITIVE Testing a light and compact AFTER A LIFE- dialysis machine. CHANGING DIAGNOSIS

Seattle area native Rocio Banuelos found out she had kidney disease in 2006. She was 18 years old.

“They did a biopsy but couldn’t find out what caused my renal failure. It was a shock to find out I was sick and would soon need dialysis.”

Several months after her diagnosis, Banuelos was approached to be part of the Seattle Kidney Study, an observational Wearable artificial kidney Our director, Dr. Jonathan Himmelfarb, study designed to understand the long- will work closely with others, including “I am thrilled to be able to We will play a major role in the first U.S. trials term health impact of chronic kidney Dr. Larry Kessler from the University of help with research. It’s very of a wearable artificial kidney, conducted with disease. She immediately said yes. Washington School of Public Health, and the federal Food and Drug Administration’s little effort for me, and it’s inventor Dr. Victor Gura from the David Ge!en new Innovations Pathway program. Banuelos and other participants undergo exciting to think that I can School of Medicine at University of California annual physical examinations which include play a part in improving things Los Angeles, to design the clinical trials. This compact dialysis machine, weighing measurement of blood pressure, height, for people with kidney disease weight, spirometry, grip strength, and speed about 10 pounds, is worn in a belt around down the road.” the waist. It delivers dialysis therapy on an “Ultimately the goals of new on a timed walk. Blood and urine specimens ongoing basis. Many consider that an ideal are collected after an overnight fast. technologies for dialysis, such as Rocio Banuelos alternative to in-center dialysis, which patients typically undergo four hours a day, three the wearable artificial kidney, are Principal investigator Dr. Bryan Kestenbaum Living with kidney disease since 2006 days a week while seated in a chair. Most to improve the lives of patients, started the clinic-based Seattle Kidney patients feel better with more dialysis, so the foster better outcomes, and Study, which aims to understand the loss increased frequency and mobility o!ered by lower the costs of treatment,” of physical and cognitive functioning this device would likely appeal to many. among people who have chronic kidney says Dr. Himmelfarb. disease. The study has enrolled more than 600 participants to date.

12 | WEARABLE ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY 13 | ROCIO: AN ENTHUSIASTIC RESEARCH PARTICIPANT KIDNEY ON A CHIP A revolutionary way to study the kidney’s response to toxins.

A microphysiological study Research: an exceptional In order to better test the safety of drugs, “There is a critical need to opportunity we will use an in vitro three-dimensional be able to model human For lifelong chronic kidney disease system to create tissue chips that mimic patients like Rich Bloch, finding a way to the function of a living human kidney. organ systems, such as make valuable use of unique healthcare Investigators will introduce kidney toxins the kidney, to improve our experiences has been a challenge. A to these tiny kidney models, which use understanding of drug participant in the SUGAR study, which living organ tissues, to study how the looks at how insulin resistance is impacted kidney reacts. efficacy and safety,” says by chronic kidney disease, Rich had blood drawn on several separate occasions. This project will bring together Dr. Jonathan Himmelfarb, scientists from University of Washington director of the KRI. “The goal “Admittedly, there were a few moments during the study when I asked myself Departments of Medicine, Bioengineering, is to develop a model system Environmental Health, and Pharmaceutics, whether I could endure the short-term discomforts. But I believed then as I among others, illustrating the collaborative, that predicts drug excretion do now that this study and the many research efforts of the KRI are absolutely, multidisciplinary research environment at by the human kidney, unquestionably worth it for the greater good of all patients. The KRI is dedicated the Kidney Research Institute. to providing patients like me ongoing opportunities to become actively involved in emulating healthy and research. And that is a truly exceptional opportunity.” disease-related conditions.”

14 | KIDNEY ON A CHIP 15 | RICH: DEDICATED TO RESEARCH INVESTIGATIVE MINDS LEAD THE WAY Dr. Bessie Young The impact of racial and ethnic di!erences Our investigators aggressively on a patient’s access to care is just one of seek new approaches to Young’s many research interests. A huge identify kidney disease early part of the kidney community in Seattle, she spends much of her time educating the on, prevent its progression, public about kidney disease. discover better predictors of associated risk factors, and Young is a nephrologist at Seattle’s Veterans find new treatments. Administration Hospital and associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She joined the KRI in 2008.

“The KRI has allowed me to pursue research relevant to the African American community, research very near to my heart as African Americans are much more likely to have kidney failure than European Americans.”

Dr. Yoshio Hall Dr. Ian de Boer Hall focuses on understanding the access The ability to forge long-lasting relationships to care and clinical outcomes for chronic with patients was just one aspect of kidney disease patients in underserved nephrology that drew de Boer to the field. populations. He currently leads a research program that aims to better characterize He’s a principal investigator on SUGAR, the impact of health organizational a study that evaluates how chronic kidney characteristics on the quality of care disease a!ects the body’s ability to patients in the urban health care safety metabolize glucose. The goal is to identify net receive. new ways to prevent cardiovascular disease and slow the progression of chronic “I enjoy working at the Kidney “The KRI’s cutting-edge research Hall received his medical degree from kidney disease. combines investigators and staff Research Institute due to the Baylor College of Medicine and after three with diverse backgrounds and De Boer completed a nephrology years of practice as a clinical nephrologist, extraordinary intellect and skills, wonderful patients willing fellowship at the University of Washington he moved to the University of Washington inquisitiveness of my colleagues to contribute their time and bodies in 2006. He became a faculty member in for further training and research and because of the KRI’s to research, and state-of-the art 2006 and a KRI investigator in 2008. opportunities. He started as an investigator unparalleled research network.” technology and resources.” at the Kidney Research Institute in 2010.

16 | OUR INVESTIGATORS 17 | OUR INVESTIGATORS Dr. Maryam Afkarian Dr. Bryan Kestenbaum Afkarian focuses on diabetic kidney disease, Kestenbaum focuses on the causes of aiming to develop new ways of diagnosing mineral metabolism disturbances in people and treating the disease by examining with kidney disease. His research includes proteins in urine to identify ones that can be evaluating the role of genes, diet and used as markers for kidney disease. medications. He studies groups of people with and without kidney disease to gain full Afkarian received her M.D.-Ph.D. in insight into the causes and consequences of immunology from Washington University altered mineral metabolism. in St. Louis, completed a nephrology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital “The KRI is one of the few kidney Kestenbaum completed a nephrology “The Kidney Research Institute has and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and fellowship at the University of Washington in research centers in the U.S. that greatly accelerated my career through arrived at the Kidney Research Institute in 2003 and has been a faculty member since. focuses its research and education day-to-day interactions with world- September 2010. He started as a KRI investigator in 2008. efforts on kidney diseases with real renowned investigators who continue public health impact. This is exactly to instill inspiration and passion for why I wanted to work here.” kidney disease research.”

Dr. Jeremy Du"eld Dr. Rajnish Mehrotra Du"eld had been director of the Laboratory Mehrotra focuses on the patient, provider for Inflammation Research at Harvard and system determinants of the selection Medical School since 2006. He moved his of dialysis therapy and how the particular laboratory, which focuses on cellular and therapy selected influences patients’ molecular mechanisms of kidney disease, health. He also works to understand the to the Kidney Research Institute in 2010. racial disparities in health and outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease. The lab recently discovered several new potential therapies, including giving extra Mehrota, Nephrology section head at amounts of a particular protein to help “It is my hope that we can take Harborview Medical Center and a KRI “The collaborative environment at the prevent kidney damage. The protein, called investigator since July 2012, was discoveries with therapeutic potential KRI creates a dynamic atmosphere Pentraxin-2, is currently in clinical trials in previously associate chief of the Division that are discovered in my lab or other that will undoubtedly produce results. chronic lung disease with the hope that it of Nephrology and Hypertension at Harbor- collaborator labs and move these to This solid foundation makes me truly will be tested in human kidney disease soon. UCLA Medical Center. early patient trials, achieving proof-of- believe we’ll find better treatments for concept that a new therapy could work patients, and that’s what research is in patients with kidney disease.” all about.”

18 | OUR INVESTIGATORS 19 | OUR INVESTIGATORS VISITING SCHOLARS BRING NEW IDEAS TO BUILDING THE FUTURE PIPELINE OF THE KIDNEY RESEARCH INSTITUTE INVESTIGATORS FOR KIDNEY RESEARCH

We invite scholars from all over the world to conduct research and collaborate with our We are proud to play a pivotal role in the accomplishments of UW Medicine’s Division of investigators. Nephrology. More people, including these fellows who conduct much of their research at the KRI, are being attracted to nephrology and kidney research.

Dr. Kenn Daratha Dr. Baback Roshanravan Daratha, an assistant professor at Senior fellow Roshanravan works with Washington State University in Spokane, participants in the Seattle Kidney Study, Wash., studies data related to the hoping to understand how chronic kidney hospitalization of kidney patients. He arrived disease a!ects their muscles and how this at the Kidney Research Institute in June 2012 impacts their physical abilities. for a summer fellowship.

Hanne van Ballegooijen Dr. Margaret Yu Ballegooijen, a doctoral student from Vrije Yu, a nephrology fellow, investigates the University in Amsterdam, spent three months relationship between depression and at the KRI in 2011 researching cardiovascular chronic kidney disease in patients with health. Her findings suggest that excess diabetes, with the hope that her research parathyroid hormone, a hormone frequently will help delay or prevent a patient’s elevated in kidney disease, puts people at progression to dialysis. higher risk for heart disease.

Dr. Hongdong Li Dr. Christine Hsu Li arrived from the Second Military Medical Hsu studies whether remote ischemic University in Shanghai in 2012. He will spend preconditioning (RPC) prevents acute 15 months conducting research on possible kidney injury (AKI) associated with cardiac biomarkers of acute kidney injury. surgery in children. RPC is a safe way of briefly decreasing blood flow to an arm or leg, which is thought to increase the body’s anti-inflammatory protective mechanisms.

20 | VISITING SCHOLARS 21 | OUR FELLOWS WELL–DEVELOPED RESOURCES AND EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITIES ABOUT KIDNEY DISEASE COMMUNITY OUTREACH Open House Community outreach We held an open house, featuring tours Many KRI investigators spend time in the of the laboratory and 30-minute talks by community, educating people about kidney investigators, Oct. 20, 2010. Nearly 200 disease and research. members of the community joined us at this event to learn more about our work. Investigators work with the American Diabetes Association, Northwest Kidney Learn @ Lunch series Centers and the Juvenile Diabetes With Northwest Kidney Centers, we Research Foundation, among others. continue to host the Learn @ Lunch series Researchers also speak to primary care around the Seattle area. Investigators have providers, medical residents and renal discussed the connection between the nurses in the Seattle area to inform them heart and the kidneys and the link between about kidney disease. kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Active patient registry unparalled resource for our investigators. Our aim is to help people better understand The biorepository also holds DNA extracted Subject recruitment is often the most just how important their kidneys are and from specimens, an essential element for “Kidney disease is not di"cult and time-consuming part of what they can do to lead a kidney-friendly many genetic studies. clinical research studies. To better facilitate lifestyle. something that many people enrollment, we have developed a detailed Approved by the Institutional Review Board are familiar with,” says Dr. patient registry of participants interested in in May 2010, the biorepository provides being contacted about research. Maryam Afkarian, a KRI samples for studies of conditions that may cause kidney disease (such as diabetes and investigator. “We don’t want The registry, approved by the Institutional hypertension), or result from kidney disease Review Board in July 2011, allows us to research to exist in a vacuum. (such as cardiovascular disease, fractures, maintain information on potential subjects We need to continue to get infections and diminished physical and to determine eligibility for existing studies. mental functioning). out in the community to Biorepository bring the public on board The biorepository currently has more than We have created an expansive data and 100,000 biosamples, and we expect to add with what we’re doing.” tissue repository that holds blood, urine, 50,000 new samples each year. and kidney biopsy tissue specimens as well as data from research studies, creating an

22 | WELL–DEVELOPED RESOURCES 23 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS HELP US MAKE WE KNOW OUR ADVANCES IN PREVENTING, DETECTING AND DOLLARS WILL BE TREATING KIDNEY DISEASE WELL SPENT Thank you Je! Lehman and Katrina Russell, co-owners of Dialysis Consulting Group, Inc., have Thank you to those who have guided the Kidney Research Institute since its inception, including collectively been involved in the dialysis the following advisors and donors: field for more than 60 years. The paucity Anonymous Bert and Jarene Lundh of funding for kidney-related research over David and Carol Ager Tim and Kathleen Myers Foundation the last 20 years prompted them to give to Lee and Connie Anderson, R.N. National Association of Letter Carriers the Kidney Research Institute. Rebecca F. Bednasek Northwest Kidney Centers Jon and Bobbe Bridge William L. Peckham Jack and Margaret Cole PomWonderful “The KRI is an organization Connie L. Davis, M.D. Peter and Christie Ra!a dedicated to kidney research John and Jean Derrig The Rathman Family Foundation Walter R. and Charlene E. Eason Jean and John Rolfe where we know our dollars will Mary Ann and Joseph W. Eschbach, M.D. Henry Rosen, M.D. be well spent,” says Katrina. Brian and Julia Forcum Sam and Gladys Rubinstein Foundation Deborah and Jonathan Himmelfarb, M.D. Je! Lehman and Katrina Russell Gary and Parul Houlahan Doug Seto The two have seen friends, family members “We have always been Susan and Clarence Huang Matthew M. Seto and colleagues deal with kidney disease Joyce and Craig Jackson, M.D. Elaine and Stuart Shankland, M.D. and they believe in funding research interested in best practices Joslin Diabetes Center Edith and Donald J. Sherrard, M.D. that leads to earlier diagnosis of chronic for dialysis operations as well Joan and Michael R. Kelly, M.D. John C. Stivelman, M.D. kidney disease. Kirin-Amgen United Way of Snohomish County as research related to the Je!rey W. and Adrienne Leistner Betty VanDeVenter care of patients with kidney Fu-Kuen Lin, Ph.D. M’Eloise B. Waters “Anything we can do to James P. and Marianne C. LoGerfo improve the diagnosis and disease,” adds Jeff, former How to give treatment is in everyone’s best chief operating officer at interest,” says Katrina. We rely on both public and private funding for research. Your gift will further build Seattle’s Northwest Kidney Centers. legacy of developing treatments and it will support the next generation of physician-scientists as they work to find a cure for kidney disease.

To give online, please visit www.kri.washington.edu/give.

To learn more about giving opportunities, please contact: Cecily Clemons Director for Philanthropy UW Medicine Advancement [email protected] 206-221-2959

24 | OUR SUPPORTERS 25 | JEFF AND KATRINA: TWO EXCEPTIONAL DONORS LOOKING AHEAD: PLANS FOR OUR NEXT PHASE

Conduct more studies, Make life-changing expand infrastructure discoveries We will enhance the depth and breadth of Our goals are to find better ways to detect our research portfolio by adding more trials kidney disease, to slow its progression and and studies, and we will continue to improve to create optimal treatments. Our hope is our supportive research infrastructure by that our studies and trials produce results hiring more research personnel, increasing that can positively impact kidney patients study enrollment and adding more samples in the near future. to our biorepository.

Draw more researchers “Overall, we’ll keep our to the field mission — to conduct research We will continue to welcome fellows, that can improve the lives of visiting scholars and scientists from a those with kidney disease — variety of fields, including clinical medicine, pharmacology, genetics, bioengineering and at the forefront of our efforts immunology, among other disciplines. Kidney throughout the next five years disease needs more researchers and we hope and beyond,” says Dr. Jonathan the very best in the field choose to be part of Himmelfarb, KRI director. the Kidney Research Institute.

26 | LOOKING AHEAD HAPPY TO HELP WITH RESEARCH

Following a 2012 surgery to remove a benign tumor, John Saul, a writer and journalism professor, developed acute kidney injury. He chose to participate in the Assessment, Serial Evaluation, and Subsequent Sequelae in Acute Kidney Injury (ASSESS-AKI) study. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, aims to evaluate the e!ect acute kidney injury has on a person’s long-term health outcomes and kidney function. “It’s all very painless, and “My family has a history of kidney disease — my father had a kidney I can tell the research removed when he was in his 40s — so coordinators really appreciate I felt it was important to be involved my time and effort,” says in kidney research,” says John. John. “I’m more than happy John and other patients involved in the to help.” ASSESS-AKI study meet with research coordinators every three months to fill out health questionnaires and provide blood and urine samples.

The Kidney Research Institute focuses on early detection, prevention and treatment of kidney disease and its complications. The institute is dedicated to improving the lives of Kidney Research Institute people with kidney disease. It was established Mailing Address: in 2008 in Seattle as a collaboration between Box 359606 Northwest Kidney Centers and UW Medicine. 325 9th Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 206–616–8574 [email protected] www.kri.washington.edu