Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Research
Descriptions of Projects
Chronic Kidney Disease Surveillance
Principal Investigator Coinvestigators
Dr. Rajiv Saran (P.I.), University of Michigan Eric Young, MD, MS, University of Michigan
Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center Brenda Gillespie, PhD, University of Michigan
Friedrich Port, MD, MS, Arbor Research, Ann Arbor
William Herman, MD, University of Michigan
Randall Webb, BA, University of Michigan
Jerry Yee, MD Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is now recognized as a major public health problem for which a comprehensive public health approach is urgently needed. Dr. Rajiv Saran, MD, MRCP, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine and his team at the Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center (UM-KECC) were recently awarded a 2-year grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in order to pilot a National Surveillance System for Chronic Kidney Disease in the US. The CDC has similarly funded the Welch Center at Johns Hopkins University (PI: Dr Neil Powe, MD, MPH, MBA), to work collaboratively with the UM-KECC and the CDC toward developing and testing this surveillance system.
A CKD surveillance system would serve to assess the prevalence and impact of CKD on our health care system and provide a quantitative assessment of the resources utilized by those with CKD. It would also assess the quality of care delivered to those with this condition and identify areas where quality improvements could be made in order to slow progression of disease (and therefore the need for renal replacement therapy) as well as reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. The methodology proposed by the team at UM-KECC includes examination of both national as well as local data sources relevant to CKD. It is also envisaged that data from a representative group of managed care plans and the veterans affairs health system will form part of this surveillance model.
Dr. Jerry Yee at the Henry Ford Hospital will be conducting CKD surveillance within the Health Alliance Plan of Detroit as a component of this surveillance project. Successful feasibility and pilot testing of the proposed system will be essential to allow the establishment of national CKD surveillance that will likely shape quality improvement, promote research and inform health policy related to CKD.
Longitudinal Chronic Renal Failure Study
This multi-center research project is an ongoing academic center prospective cohort study of CKD outpatients and studies the natural history and treatment of Chronic Renal Failure. The project is directed by Dr. Rajiv Saran at the UM KECC and is funded by the Renal Research Institute.