Our grants
SUCCESS STORY
Enhancing kidney care The award-winning Barts Diabetic Kidney Centre is having a profound impact on care, prevention and research. In 2015, we awarded a £3.4m grant to establish a new Barts Diabetic Kidney Centre. Kidney damage is one of the most devastating consequences of diabetes, leaving patients in the need of dialysis and potentially a kidney transplant. It has a major impact in East London – for example, 8% of people in Newham have diabetes – but given the area’s ethnically diverse population, lessons learned here could be of global significance. In a remarkably short space of time, the Centre has achieved considerable impact in all its areas of interest. Diabetes care: Building on an electronic health record system shared among local general practices – collectively serving a population of 1.1 million people – hospital kidney specialists have established an integrated ‘e-clinic’ approach to kidney care. When GPs think that specialist input is required, they now make
an electronic referral. Hospital consultants can instantly view a patient’s full health record, and are much better placed to advise on the appropriate course of action. The 14 consultants involved can offer more rapid support – referral times have dropped from 18 weeks to 2 weeks – and can concentrate on those most in need of specialist care. This innovative approach was highly commended in the prestigious 2017 Health Service Journal Awards. Education: The team has also established an outreach programme, organising group sessions and one-to-one meetings for those at risk of kidney disease, to encourage the uptake of lifestyle changes to protect kidney health. The nurse running this programme won the British Journal of Nursing’s 2018 Renal Nurse of the Year award. Clinical trials: The new systems have created a platform enabling more patients to be recruited into clinical trials of new treatments – the area is now one of the highest recruiting centres in London.
Perhaps most significant is a major new study using multiple approaches to track the progression of kidney disease. As well as distinguishing different types of kidney disease – potentially allowing for more tailored treatments – the study will create a biobank of samples to support research. The value of the study has been reflected in multimillion pound backing by a major pharmaceutical company. Research: A programme of research is exploring mechanisms of kidney disease. In particular, researchers are investigating abnormalities in podocytes, cells that form sieve-like structures in the kidney. If these sieves develop holes, proteins begin leaking into urine. Notably, the team has found that certain cancer drugs correct abnormalities in podocytes, suggesting a possible new approach to treatment. £3,369,000 2015 Dr Neil Ashman, Consultant
By helping people take better care of their kidneys, we can significantly delay the need for dialysis, which can have a major impact on patients’ lives. At a glance… Dr Neil Ashman Consultant, Barts Health
The project: Creating a new Barts Diabetic Kidney Centre. What’s being done: A new ‘e-clinic’ system is enabling hospital kidney specialists to work more closely with GPs. Impact: The new system has reduced referral times from 18 weeks to 2 weeks and led to better patient care, increased recruitment to clinical trials, and underpinned a major programme of research into diabetic kidney disease.
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Annual Report 2017/18
bartscharity.org.uk
