Arbor Research Awarded Kidney Failure Research Grant
ANN ARBOR -- The Arbor Research Collaborative for Health has been approved for a research award from the Washington, D.C.-based Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to study the selection of dialysis treatment patterns for kidney failure, in order to gain meaningful information for patients and caregivers.
The project is part of a portfolio of patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research that addresses PCORI's National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda.
Francesca Tentori, M.D., a research scientist at Arbor Research, will lead the project. The initiative will focus on filling the knowledge gap that currently exists regarding patients' priorities around dialysis modality. Every year, over 100,000 patients start dialysis in the United States. Two dialysis modalities are available: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Traditionally, the choice of dialysis modality has been driven by medical conditions, with little attention to patient preferences.
To better understand the patient perspective, the project will assess the comparative benefits of peritoneal dialysis versus hemodialysis and provide tailored information to assist patients with identifying the best dialysis modality fit for their own particular circumstances and perspectives.
Said Tentori: "I am looking forward to working along with our partners at the University of Michigan, Henry Ford Health System, the American Association of Kidney Patients and the National Kidney Foundation and to building collaborative relationships with patients affected by advanced chronic kidney disease and their families."
In undertaking this study, Arbor Research aims to identify outcomes that are most important to patients with kidney disease facing the choice of dialysis treatments. The project will leverage the existing infrastructure of the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study and Peritoneal DOPPS, large international cohort studies of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients, to compare patient-centered outcomes.
Using results from the study, Arbor Research and its collaboration will develop a decision aid to assist patients facing the choice of dialysis modality and test decision-making outcomes. The inclusion of patients, caregivers, and patient advocacy organizations as research partners in this project will assure that the study addresses those questions of greatest relevance to patients facing the need for dialysis.
The findings will provide practical information to patients and caregivers, empowering them to play an active role in decision-making at this pivotal transition in their lives.
The awards were part of PCORI's first cycle of primary research funding and selected from among nearly 500 completed applications submitted earlier this year. All proposals were approved pending a business and programmatic review by PCORI staff and completion of a formal award contract.
Since 1997, Arbor Research has led major studies in epidemiology and public health, with the mission to improve the practice of health care. Arbor Research provides expertise in clinical practice, biostatistical analysis, epidemiology, management and integration of large data sets, economics, and public policy. A non-profit organization located in Ann Arbor, Arbor Research is committed to improving patient lives through research.
More at www.ArborResearch.org.
PCORI is an independent, non-profit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed health care decisions. More at www.pcori.org.
