Redesigning kidney trials for improved evidence and patient care
“If a drug improves creatinine but makes a patient too fatigued to work, that’s a safety signal we might be missing.”
How can nephrology translate recent advances in research into better outcomes for people with kidney diseases?
In the second episode of the ISN PARADIGM in Clinical Trials podcast series, drawing on insights from the Consensus Meeting on Changing Paradigms of Studies in CKD, host Hiddo Heerspink is joined by David Wheeler, Kevin Weinfurt, and Adeera Levin to explore four key areas shaping the future of kidney research: innovative trial designs, hierarchical composite endpoints, stakeholder engagement, and practical strategies for implementation.
The discussion examines how approaches such as adaptive, platform, basket, and umbrella trials could improve efficiency and accelerate research, particularly in rare kidney diseases. Experts also discuss emerging endpoint strategies that may better capture disease progression and ensure that more patients contribute meaningfully to trial outcomes.
A recurring theme is the importance of engaging patients alongside clinicians, regulators, and other stakeholders throughout the research process. As Kevin Weinfurt notes, understanding how treatments affect daily life is essential to evaluating their true benefit: “If a drug improves creatinine but makes a patient too fatigued to work, that’s a safety signal we might be missing.”
Listen to the episode to learn how experts are rethinking kidney clinical trials to make research more efficient, inclusive, and patient-centered.
Further reading
Rethinking kidney trials: The ISN’s PARADIGM roadmap moves into action
