We will find ways to make kidney transplants last longer, dialysis more tolerable, reduce the burden of treatment and monitoring, and improve quality of life for people living with kidney disease. We will harness and develop technology to enable people to take control of their kidney health.

We will investigate how kidney disease is linked to other conditions that people commonly experience at the same time, including heart disease, diabetes and mental health problems.

We will investigate how kidney disease is linked to other conditions that people commonly experience at the same time, including heart disease, diabetes and mental health problems.

Further research into the provision of psychosocial support for people with kidney disease is under way. It is essential that the evidence base as it emerges can inform the ongoing development of services, and more research follows to ensure that we continue to learn what works in what circumstances.

• Transitioning between child and adult renal services

Evidence shows that a successful transition from child to adult renal services improves patient experience and treatment outcomes. We are interested in hearing about interventions and research projects that take a multi-layered or multi-disciplinary approach to the specific transition needs of young people with chronic kidney disease where their mental health and wellbeing forms a key element, where the patient is empowered to make informed decisions and where health inequalities relating to adolescents are addressed.

• Breaking the link between kidney disease and poorer mental health

The association between poorer mental health and kidney disease is supported by a large body of evidence. The reasons and mechanisms behind this are not well understood and therefore need further research. We want to learn more about the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to this outcome. We want to hear about research and interventions relating to dialysis and transplantation anxieties and how these can be better supported to prevent the recognised relationship with poorer mental health outcomes.

• Mental health and wellbeing support to inform treatment choices for dialysis

There is evidence to support, that in some cases and where relevant, home-based dialysis can facilitate increased freedom and an improved quality of life when compared to clinic-based dialysis. However, there are different challenges and barriers associated with home-based therapy including isolation, location, economic impact and culture. We want to hear about interventions and projects that recognise and evaluate the differing needs for psychosocial support in different care settings and provide support to individuals to make an informed treatment choice.

• Mental health and wellbeing support as part of a wraparound care package for those living with chronic or inherited rare kidney disease/multiple health conditions:

Kidney disease often doesn’t appear on its own – as people are living longer, they are often living with other health conditions. A combination of longer-term conditions can have a huge impact on people’s lives and psychosocial health.
We want to hear about projects and interventions that provide a multi-disciplinary approach to kidney care, where mental health and wellbeing is included in ensuring equitable care for those living with kidney disease as part of a wraparound service which may bring other specialties into a renal care setting. How can conversation-based research positively impact mental health and wellbeing? What are the economic impacts of providing this type of wraparound care?

• Mental health research and end stage renal replacement therapies (RRT)

We want to increase the number and range of therapeutic options for those at end stage renal failure. We are interested in research and interventions that look at mental health ‘wraparound’ services at various points of the patient journey (for example, waiting list, dialysis, transplantation, end of life)

We are interested in research evidence that substantiates the inclusion of mental health services either as a core or a flexing part of renal replacement therapy.

We are interested in research that could ultimately result in the implementation of evidence-based changes in:

• Waiting list strategies
• Peri-operative and follow up strategies
• Shared decision-making for populations most at risk of mental health complications
• How those on the RRT pathway most vulnerable to mental health deterioration are identified

We will highlight the inequalities of kidney disease; we will investigate why some groups of people are more at risk of kidney disease, and progress to kidney failure much faster. We will press for greater diversity in kidney research, so that discoveries benefit everyone.

We are keen to receive proposals that address kidney health inequalities, particularly those research evidence gaps that have emerged from the Time to Act: A new review of kidney health inequalities report launched in July 2024.