The Hamilton Centre for Kidney Research brings clinical and biomedical researchers together in one place where the focus is to improve the lives of patients with chronic kidney disease through leading-edge research. The scope of the problem we are addressing is huge: approximately one million Canadians live with moderate to severe kidney disease of which more than 23.000 patients are on dialysis and 16,000 patients require a kidney transplant to remain alive. Sadly, patients with chronic kidney disease have anywhere from 3-20 times the risk of death compared to the general population. Less than half of individuals who start dialysis live 5-years; worse than those diagnosed with colorectal or breast cancer. Our patients suffer not just from the lack of kidney function, but a high rate of premature cardiovascular disease. Their quality of life is low and they suffer from many symptoms; from the direct effects of poor kidney function, and in the case of patients on dialysis, the effects of dialysis itself. Helping these and future patients by developing treatments to prevent or delay the onset of kidney disease and improve the quality of life of those already suffering from chronic kidney disease are the major research thrusts of the Hamilton Centre for Kidney Research.

Having basic scientists and clinical researchers working together on a particular human disease or condition, such as kidney disease, is much more conducive to translational research than having the two types of research taking place in isolation.

We have a number of basic scientists and clinical researchers working on many important areas in kidney disease. Many of the studies ongoing involve collaboration between basic scientists and clinical researchers, paving the way to translational research in kidney disease.