New £10.4M research centre will unlock new tests, treatments and cures for people living with rare kidney diseases 23 April 2024 Thousands of people living with rare kidney disease will get access to improved diagnostics, treatments and potentially cures, thanks to the creation of a new research centre co-funded by Kidney Research UK and medical charity LifeArc. In 2023 our major report showed that kidney failure could overwhelm the health care system within ten years. The LifeArc-Kidney Research UK Centre for Rare Kidney Diseases is being launched to provide urgent focus and resource. It ..read more

Shocking that nothing has changed in 20 years 23 April 2024 Twenty-five years ago, Kathryn Croker faced kidney failure after being diagnosed with the rare disease, IgA vasculitis. Receiving a transplant from her dad in 2013, she then began volunteering with us at Kidney Research UK and now shares her own experiences to help shape the future of research as part of our lay advisory group.  Most recently, Kathryn has shared her perspective as a kidney patient as part of a funding application, helping secure a £9.4m research centre focused on accelerating research into rare kidney diseas ..read more

I donated a kidney to a stranger – now I’m running the London Marathon! 18 April 2024 On 4 February 2015, Paul Dooley, from Glasgow, took the amazing step of donating a kidney to a stranger. Paul, 39, and his brother Kenny, 44, became the first siblings in the UK to altruistically donate organs, with Kenny having donated a kidney of his own three years previously. When Paul runs the London Marathon alongside his fiancée, Lynsey, on Sunday 21 April, he will be changing even more lives by raising money to support our work at Kidney Research UK.  Lorry driver, Paul, says: “When my broth ..read more

“Dialysis takes five hours of my husband’s life every other day – the time it’ll take me to run the London Marathon!” 17 April 2024 Running the London Marathon in five hours will be a challenge, but one that Tamsin Hill is determined to complete when she takes to the streets of London on Sunday 21 April 2024. Tamsin’s husband, Craig, lives with kidney disease and, together with their daughter Ellie, will be cheering as Tamsin runs to raise money for us at Kidney Research UK.   Tamsin, 42 from Durham, says: “Craig is my inspiration. His dialysis takes him away from life for ..read more

Kidney nurse wins bronze at esteemed awards 11 April 2024 Rosaline Agyekum, senior nurse on the Health Inequalities in kiDney Disease, mEeting the urgent Need to identify early disease in high-risk communities (HIDDEN) project, has been awarded bronze for Renal Nurse of the Year at the British Journal of Nursing (BJN) awards . Rosaline Agyeku A project to research high risk communities With funding from Kidney Research UK, Roseline and her team from King’s College Hospital are working to reach high risk groups, like the African and Afro Caribbean community (AACC), that may otherwise n ..read more

Siblings make father proud by taking on the Easter Ultra Challenge 11 April 2024 Three siblings took on the Easter Ultra Challenge on Saturday 6 April – walking 10km and raising more than £5,600 for Kidney Research UK to mark their father’s recent transplant.  Simran, from London, was joined by her sister Raani and brother Kamal. She says: “This disease has touched our family in a very personal way. We wanted to show our gratitude and push ourselves to do something following our dad’s experience, by raising money for Kidney Research UK for other people affected.”  Siblings, S ..read more

I donated a kidney to my best mate, now I’m running the London marathon! 08 April 2024 In November 2023, best mates, Spencer Moss, from Surrey, and Dave Yeatman from East Sussex, celebrated a special anniversary. It was ten years since Spencer donated one of his kidneys to Dave.   Spencer, 56, says: “We go out every year to celebrate our kidneyversary. We always try to book a table at a restaurant with our partners. It’s an emotional occasion for us all.”  Best friends, Dave and Spencer Marathon plans The pair had planned to run this year’s London Marathon together, on ..read more

“Kidney disease means we observe Ramadan differently to other Muslims” 05 April 2024 With no cure for kidney disease, patients and their families often need to find ways to adapt their lives to accommodate their illness and treatment. At just 16 years old, Rayhan, from Blackburn, has been receiving home haemodialysis for the past six months after being diagnosed with IgA nephropathy in 2022. For Rayhan and his mother, Amina, several changes have become necessary in the way they study, work, eat, drink, socialise and practice their religion.   Amina, 52, says: “Rayhan’s kidney di ..read more

The 26-year-old defiantly walking 10,000 steps a day to fight kidney disease 05 April 2024 In January 2024, when 26-year-old Jazmin Ahmet received a shock diagnosis of kidney disease, in the form of IgA nephropathy, it created lots of anxiety about her future. Just two months later, Jazmin, from Nottingham, has been participating in our March March virtual event – walking 10,000 steps a day - to raise awareness and money in support of kidney research.  Jazmin says: “I was not expecting my diagnosis at all. It has been hard keeping some normality and staying positive. I saw the March ..read more

Is there ever an ‘ideal’ kidney journey? 04 April 2024 Early detection of kidney disease can increase treatment options, providing an opportunity to slow progression and protect kidney function. This can drastically improve quality of life for patients as they may be able to delay or avoid the need for dialysis completely, something kidney patient Adam Musa is all too aware of. Adam Musa Many patients are currently undiagnosed until they reach the later stages of kidney disease. This is even the case for individuals who are known to be at greater risk, including those living with dia ..read more