Establishing a clinical trials network in nephrology: experience of the Australasian Kidney Trials Network

• Published in: Kidney international Vol. 85; no. 1; pp. 23 - 30
• Main Authors: Morrish, Alicia T., Hawley, Carmel M., Johnson, David W., Badve, Sunil V., Perkovic, Vlado, Reidlinger, Donna M., Cass, Alan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2014; Elsevier Limited; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Australasia; chronic kidney disease; clinical trials; collaborative research; health policy; Humans; investigator initiated; Nephrology - organization & administration; Nephrology - trends; Policy Forum; randomized controlled trial; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic - trends; Australasia; chronic kidney disease; clinical trials; investigator initiated; health policy; collaborative research; randomized controlled trial
• ISSN: 0085-2538; 1523-1755; 1523-1755
• DOI: 10.1038/ki.2013.391

Chronic kidney disease is a major public health problem globally. Despite this, there are fewer high-quality, high-impact clinical trials in nephrology than other internal medicine specialties, which has led to large gaps in evidence. To address this deficiency, the Australasian Kidney Trials Network, a Collaborative Research Group, was formed in 2005. Since then, the Network has provided infrastructure and expertise to conduct patient-focused high-quality, investigator-initiated clinical trials in nephrology. The Network has not only been successful in engaging the nephrology community in Australia and New Zealand but also in forming collaborations with leading researchers from other countries. This article describes the establishment, development, and functions of the Network. The article also discusses the current and future funding strategies to ensure uninterrupted conduct of much needed clinical trials in nephrology to improve the outcomes of patients affected by kidney diseases with cost-effective interventions.