Congratulations to Dr. Michael Walsh and Dr. Amit Gargand teams for being selected for funding by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)’s Accelerating Clinical Trials (ACT) Consortium! Of the 43 trials that applied for funding, 2 of the 11 trials selected were CNTN endorsed trials:
Dr. Amit Garg (London, ON; Western University and the London Health Sciences Centre): Effect of a Multi-Component Quality Improvement Intervention on Patient Access to Kidney Transplantation and Living Kidney Donation (EnAKT-LKD)
Dr. Michael Walsh (Hamilton, ON; McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute): Aldosterone blockade for Health Improvement Evaluation in End-stage renal disease (ACHIEVE)
The ACT Consortium was established to advance and facilitate the implementation of high-quality, high-impact randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to improve global health. For more information on the consortium, visit www.act-aec.com.
This most recent call for proposals was designed to support ongoing and active, Canadian-led, high-impact RCTs that required additional funding for successful completion. All recipients of this ACT grant will publicly report their results by January 15, 2025.
Patients, providers, and policy-makers came together from across Canada came together in March to plant, cultivate, and nurture support for new randomized controlled trials in hemodialysis.
The Gardener’s Grove Conference 2023 was a four-day virtual event featuring education sessions and presentations of proposed pragmatic trials that have the potential of improving routine hemodialysis care. Audience participation, group discussions and expert panels provided meaningful advice to improve the proposed trials and nurture new ideas.
The Canadian Nephrology Trials Network (CNTN) was well represented at the conference with presentations by four committee members.
Karthik Tennankore: BP in HD: Finding the Right Blood Pressure Target for Patients on Dialysis (View video)
Melissa Schorr: Impact of diuretic use on Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis Who Have Residual Renal Function (View video)
Amber Molnar and Dr. Samuel Silver: Dial-Bicarb – Outcomes of a Higher vs. Lower Hemodialysate Bicarbonate Concentration (View video)
A detailed summary of the conference, including all presentations and panel discussions, can be viewed here.
Every year on May 20, we acknowledge International Clinical Trials Day! Raising clinical trial awareness and honouring clinical research professionals across the globe. The Canadian Nephrology Trials Network would like to recognize the work of our network members in advancing medical knowledge through research.
The International Society of Nephrology hosted the World Congress of Nephrology from March 30 to April 2 in Bangkok, Thailand. CNTN was represented on the international stage and proud to highlight our network. Many thanks for Dr. Michelle Wong, who is a member of the Communications and Engagement Committee, for presenting our CNTN poster at the event.
March 9 is #WorldKidneyDay! We would like to recognize the work of CNTN members for raising awareness on the importance of kidney health research and clinical trials in Canada. Visit https://cntn.ca to navigate trials and publications from our members. #kidneyhealthforall
We hope CNTN membership had a safe Holiday Season and Happy New Year. We look forward to 2023 and what is in store!
Nos meilleurs vœux pour 2023
Nous espérons que les membres du RCEN ont connu une bonne période de fêtes et une bonne année. Nous avons hâte à 2023 et à ce qui nous attend!
The Accelerating Clinical Trials Consortium
As part of Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy (BLSS), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Clinical Trials Fund (CTF) will be foundational in ensuring that Canadians are well served by a national clinical trials network that fosters all aspects of therapeutics development, from discovery through to delivery. Approximately $60M is being awarded to 22 projects to fund clinical trial phases, designs, and objectives that align with the priorities of the BLSS.
The Canadian Nephrology Trials Network is pleased to announce we were included in a successful CIHR grant application for the The Accelerating Clinical Trials Consortium. CNTN member will be involved in committees moving forward and we are excited to be part of this work and to help accelerate clinical trials in Canada.
We are in the planning stages of hosting our next CNTN Research Symposium at the Canadian Society of Nephrology AGM on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 from 8 am – 11 am AST. This is a great opportunity to learn about what CNTN has been up to, where we are going, and how to get involved. Event will include research presentations.
If you would like to present or have an idea, please contact Alicia Murdoch amurdoch@cansolveckd.ca
Le RCEN a l´AGA 2023 du CSN
Réservez la date!
Nous sommes en train de planifier l’organisation de notre prochain symposium de recherche du RCEN lors de l’AGA de la Société canadienne de néphrologie, le mercredi 10 mai, 8 am – 11 am AST. C’est une excellente occasion d’apprendre ce que le RCEN a fait, où nous allons, et comment s’impliquer. Cet événement inclura des présentations de recherche.
As part of Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy (BLSS), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Clinical Trials Fund (CTF) will be foundational in ensuring that Canadians are well served by a national clinical trials network that fosters all aspects of therapeutics development, from discovery through to delivery. Approximately $60M is being awarded to 22 projects to fund clinical trial phases, designs, and objectives that align with the priorities of the BLSS.
The Canadian Nephrology Trials Network is pleased to announce we were included in a successful CIHR grant application for the The Accelerating Clinical Trials Consortium. CNTN member will be involved in committees moving forward and we are excited to be part of this work and to help accelerate clinical trials in Canada
The Canadian Nephrology Trials Network was excited to meet in-person in Toronto from October 14-15. The meeting focused on succession planning and short-term and long-term network goals.
“Everyone was excited to meet again in-person,” says CNTN Project Manager Alicia Murdoch, “and I think that set the stage and contributed to a successful meeting.” The meeting included 19 in-person attendees with nephrologists, researchers and patient partners from across the country including 3 virtual participants. It was great to meet new and familiar faces as this was the first in-person meeting in over 2 years. The meeting was opened with a Land Acknowledgment and closed from Knowledge Keeper Garry Sault from Mississauga of Credit First Nation.
The meeting allowed the 4 committees of the CNTN, the Executive, the Capacity Building, Scientific Operations and Communications and Engagement, to come together and review Phase 1 successes and plan for Phase 2. Each committee gave an update to the network members and received feedback during engaging discussion reflecting challenges and successes, what has worked and what could be improved.
Discussion included supporting researchers in patient engagement including reviewing how are patient partners currently engaged in CNTN activities, how can the network support researchers in engaging patients and identifying training and capacity building needs.
Ensuring patient voices were at the forefront, advocacy was a large part of the discussion. “Patients want to make sure their voices are not only being heard but implemented into the collaboration process,” says Murdoch. The idea of patient ambassadors was recurring theme and utilizing them to advocate to REB’s, industry, Health Canada about the research of the network. “We will continue to work with our patient partners to support them and commit to amplifying the patient partner voice within our network and the larger clinical trials community,” states Murdoch.
Future network goals asked membership to reflect where do we go from here, value of CNTN to its members and the larger nephrology research community. Sustainability was discussed at great length to ensure long-term success of the network, including engaging with industry.
The network was able to offer a financial assistance opportunity back in September to projects and teams for an aspect of their research such as recruitment, knowledge translation, or patient engagement activities. The applications were evaluated and ranked by the CNTN Committee members and they reviewed the results during our meeting. There were 27 applications received and a total of 9 projects were awarded a total of $73,625.
CNTN is committed to fostering excellence for Nephrology Trials in Canada and connecting researchers and patients to support research and innovation and we look forward to Phase 2 of the network. We look forward to rolling out our succession planning as we look towards the future of the network.
If you would like to know more about CNTN or ways to get involved, please contact Alicia Murdoch at amurdoch@cansolveckd.ca
Listen to all episodes of the CNTN Spotlight podcast below. Join host Alicia Murdoch as she has engaging conversations with both clinicians and patient partners about various topics of importance in clinical research.
This episode features Dr. Dylan MacKay, a researcher and assistant professor at the University of Manitoba in the department of food and human nutrition. In this episode, Dr. MacKay discusses his research involving nutrition interventions in chronic kidney disease and diabetes.
Episode 5 – Interview with Dr. Bhanu Prasad
This episode features Dr. Bhanu Prasad, Nephrologist practicing in Regina, Saskatchewan. In this episode, Dr. Prasad discusses the recent publication in CJASN “Kidney Failure Risk Equation and Cost of Care in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease” and his research on loin pain hematuria syndrome (LPHS). Dr. Prasad is also a member of the CNTN Communication and Engagement Committee.
Episode 4 – Interview with patient partner Mary Beaucage
Episode 4 features an interview with Mary Beaucage, a patient partner from Nipissing First Nation, Ontario who sits on the CNTN Communications and Engagement Committee. She is a kidney recipient and involved in several studies and committee’s within Can-SOLVE CKD including the Patient Governance Circle and Indigenous Peoples’ Engagement and Research Council and will be discussing her experience.
Listen now:
Episode 3 – Interview with Dr. David Collister
This episode features Dr. David Collister, Nephrologist from University of Alberta. In this episode, Dr. Collister discusses his research program that focuses on symptom management and his experience conducting patient-oriented research. Dr. Collister is also a member of the CNTN Scientific Operations Committee and the Executive Committee.
Listen now:
Episode 2 – Interview with Dr. Stephanie Thompson
This episode features Dr. Stephanie Thompson, Nephrologist from Edmonton. In this episode Dr. Stephanie Thompson from the University of Alberta talks about the challenges and lessons learned from her recent exercise trial.
Listen now:
Episode 1 – Interview with patient partner Dwight Sparkes
The first episode features an interview with Dwight Sparkes, a patient partner from St. John’s Newfoundland who is the patient co-lead on the CNTN Capacity Building committee. He is involved in several studies and working groups within Can-SOLVE CKD and will be discussing his experience over the past 4 years.
The Canadian Nephrology Trials Network would like to acknowledge and congratulate their funding partner Can-SOLVE CKD Network on Phase 2 funding announcement. Can-SOLVE CKD will receive $3.75 million in new funding from CIHR matched by more than $8 million raised through the generous support of more than 60 partners.
The CNTN is thrilled about the investment being made by CIHR and Can-SOLVE CKD’s partner funders. Our organization is excited to continue our work towards improving the design, implementation and delivery of nephrology clinical trials in Canada.
CNTN Executive Co-Chairs Karthik Tennankore, François Madore, Hans Vorster, Dwight Sparkes
Can-SOLVE CKD Phase 2 is focused on mobilizing the findings of projects launched during the network’s first five years. Read the full network statement here:
