The ISLHD Renal Service offers a number of academic research studies and clinical trials for people with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). We have been involved in trials for rare kidney disorders, diabetes in kidneys, and studies aimed at slowing the progression of kidney disease and studies that involve renal transplant recipients and dialysis patients.
Contact information:
Address: Renal Service, ISLHD
3 Dudley Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Clinical Research Nurse: Yulan Shen
Email: ISLHD-KidneyResearch@health.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 4222 5443 or (02) 4222 5775
Information for Patients
What is clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a medical research study that looks for a better way to treat a disease or a medical problem. It can be a drug, medical procedure, medical device, or even a lifestyle change etc.
Are there any benefits in participating in a clinical trial?
There are several potential benefits to participating in research:
- By participating in a research trial, you are able to play an active role in your health care
- You may get free treatments or tests that are not available to the general public
- You may get free consultations, such as dietician, physiotherapist etc.
- You may be followed up more often, which might mean more or longer consultation, and in-depth tests.
- You may understand more about your disease, and the possible treatments for it
- Patients in future may benefit from the knowledge gained from the research
Is there a trial available for me?
Our trials are at all levels of kidney function, from early till end stage of kidney disease. Depending on your medical condition, we can match you with the trial. You can contact our research team via following contact details to register your interest:
Email: ISLHD-KidneyResearch@health.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 4222 5443 or (02) 4222 5775
New trials start regularly. Once you have registered your interest, we will keep you in our ‘Research Waiting List’ so we can contact you once there is a suitable trial available for you.
More Information
To learn about clinical trials from people who have been there, please click here.
Current Clinical Trials and research projects
FIND-CKD
Kidney Function Level: Stage 1-4 or eGFR 25-90
Investigators: Jenny Chen, Jane Holt, Yulan Shen
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, Bayer Ltd.
Purpose: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter Phase 3 study to investigate the efficacy and safety of finerenone, i.e., 10 mg and 20 mg once daily, compared with placebo, on the progression of non-diabetic chronic kidney disease in male and female patients over 18 years of age, over minimum of 32-months of study intervention per participant, in addition to standard of care.
ACCESS-HD
Kidney Function Level: CKD-5
Investigators: Hicham Hassan, Pauline Byrne
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, The George Institute
Purpose: Comparing Catheters to Fistulas in Elderly Patients Starting Hemodialysis
TRACK
Kidney Function Level: Stage 4-5 or eGFR <30
Investigators: Jenny Chen, Hicham Hassan, Yulan Shen
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, The George Institute
Purpose: Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, including those receiving dialysis, suffer from significant burden of heart and vascular disease. Because of increased risks of both clotting and bleeding, preventive heart disease treatment with blood-thinning medications is challenging in these patients. This trial will evaluate whether a small dose of rivaroxaban, a new blood-thinning medication for cardiovascular disease prevention, would reduce death or major events due to heart and vascular disease in patients with advanced kidney disease
PHOSPHATE
Kidney Function Level: Stage 5 or eGFR< 15 (Dialysis only)
Investigators: Hicham Hassan, Jenny Chen, Yulan Shen
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, AKTN
Purpose: Evaluate whether compared to high levels, lowering blood phosphate levels would reduce death or major events due to heart disease, improve physical health, and be cost-effective: Cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease event.
CARSK
Kidney Function Level: Stage 5 or eGFR<15 (Transplantation Work-up only)
Investigators: Jane Holt, Loreen Evans
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, NHMRC, CIHR
Purpose: Investigate whether after screening for wait list entry, no cardiac screening tests is non-inferior compared to the current standard care and whether to re-vascularise coronary stenosis in asymptomatic patients.
ASCEND-ND
Kidney Function Level: Stage 5 or eGFR<15 (Transplantation Work-up only)
Investigators: Karumathil Murali, Hicham Hassan, Yulan Shen
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, GSK
Purpose: Many patients with kidney disease develop anaemia, which makes them feel very tired. Currently anaemia in kidney patients is treated with an injection given weekly or fortnightly. This international research project is testing the effect of newly discovered tablet in place of the injection. If you have kidney disease and anaemia you may be suitable to take part in this project.
QUEST Initiative
Kidney Function Level: all stage
Investigators: Roger Cole, Narelle Illic
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, Sydney University
Purpose: Investigating the quality of life and health economic impact of medicinal cannabis on patients with chronic disease.
SYMBIOTiC Study
Kidney Function Level: Stage 3-4 or eGFR 15-59
Investigators: Anita Stefoska-Needham, Jordan Stanford
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, University of Wollongong, St George Hospital
Purpose: Investigate the effects of a novel renal dietary intervention (rich in plant foods, utilising a whole food dietary approach) designed to improve diet quality, symptom burden, the gastrointestinal microbiome as well as other health outcomes in adults with moderate-severe, pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease.
Renal Health Pathways
Kidney Function Level: 10
Investigators: Debbie Pugh, Kelly Lambert, Steve Gilbbeson
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD
Purpose: To investigate the association between the introduction of health pathways and referral quality to nephrology services.
HIRC 2
Kidney Function Level: all stage
Investigators: Kelly Lambert, Anna Lee, Mikki Smyth, Margreet Gutker
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, University of Wollongong
Purpose: To understand the perspectives and experiences of patients, carers, and health providers of CKD care to inform design of patient centered services.
HIRC 3
Kidney Function Level: all stage
Investigators: Kelly Lambert, Maureen Lonergan, Karumathil Murali, Anna Lee, Hicham Hassan, Shafiq Chowdhury
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, University of Wollongong
Purpose: Explore factors associated with the development, progression and hospitalization of CKD in ISLHD residents.
RAPID Program
Kidney Function Level: CKD 4-5
Investigators: Narelle Illic
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, University of Technology Sydney
Purpose: Examine data on widespread and longer-term use of medications and non-pharmacological interventions.
Past Research Projects and Clinical Trials
Anemia Studies in Chronic Kidney Disease: Erythropoiesis Via a Novel Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitor Daprodusta - Dialysis (ASCEND-D)
A phase 3 randomised, open label (sponsor blind), active controlled, parallel group, multicentre, event driven study in dialysis subjects with anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease to evaluate the safety, efficacy of daprodustat compared recombinant human erythropoietin, following a switch from erythropoientin-simulating agents.
Investigators: Karumathil Murali, Hicham Hassan, Yulan Shen, Donia George, Carmen Lemmon
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Wollongong Hospital, Shellharbour Hospital, Renal Medicine, Pharmacy Department, South Eastern Area Laboratory Services
Randomised Controlled trial of slowing of Kidney Disease progression From the Inhibition of Xanthine oxidase (CKD-FIX)
The CKD-FIX trial aims to find out whether treatment with allopurinol, a commonly used drug for gout prevention, safely and effectively slows CKD progression.
Investigators: Jane Holt, Mikki Smyth
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Renal Medicine
External Partners: AKTN
Food as medicine: Safety of nuts in people with end stage kidney disease
Can nuts be used safely to improve bowel health in people with end stage kidney disease?
Investigators: Kelly Lambert, Yasmine Probst, Elizabeth Neale, Martina Smith, Maureen Lonergan
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Renal Medicine, Nutrition and Dietetics
External Partners: IHMRI
Health Impacts Research Cluster (HIRC) 1
Systematic review of factors associated with the progression of kidney disease.
Investigators: Kelly Lambert
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Renal Medicine
Peritoneal Dialysis - Patients Who Swim
Looking at proportion of PD patients who swim and subsequently develop an exit site infection.
Investigators: Anna Lee
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Renal Medicine
Peritonitis as risk factor for cardiovascular events
Prospective study examining peritonitis as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events in the peritoneal dialysis population in a tertiary referral centre.
Investigators: Hicham Hassan, Kelly Lambert, Kristen Hepburn, Maureen Lonergan, Judy Mullen, Brendan McAlister
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Renal Medicine, Wollongong Hospital, Shellharbour Hospital, Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital, Milton Ulladulla Hospita
External Partners: CHRISP
REDUcing the burden of dialysis Catherter ComplicaTIONs: a National approach (REDUCCTION)
This project aims to define the national, clinical and economic burden of dialysis catheter infections in Australia, to implement an evidence-based intervention package and to establish a framework for monitoring dialysis catheter related bacteraemia.
Investigators: Pauline Byrne, Karumathil Murali, Hicham Cheikh Hassan
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Renal Medicine
External Partners: AKTN
Renal Resistive Index and CRF
Renal Resistive Index in assessment of risk and progression of Chronic Kidney Disease.
Investigators: Sarah Davis, Karumathil Murali, Kelly Lambert, David Huber
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Wollongong Hospital, Renal Medicine
External Partners: CHRISP, South Coast Vascular Laboratory
Safety and Efficacy of Using Nuts to Improve Bowel Health in Hemodialysis Patients
The aim of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of using nuts to improve constipation in adults undertaking hemodialysis.
Investigators: Kelly Lambert, Maureen Lonergan, Luke Bird
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Renal Medicine
External Partners: School of Medicine, UoW; Microbiome and Host Health Programe, South Australia and Medical Research Institute; School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, UoW; Department of Chemical Pathology, Pathology Queensland; IHMRI; The Almond Board of Australia.
Targeted Education ApproaCH to improve Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes (TEACH-PD): A feasibility study
An investigator-initiated, single-armed, non-randomised, pilot study assessing the use of training modules for both PD nurse trainers and incident PD patients undertaking PD training.
Investigators: Anna Lee, Maureen Lonergan
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Renal Medicine, Wollongong Hospital
External Partners: Australian Kidney Trials Network, AKTN
The Australasian Registry of Rare and Genetic Kidney Disease
To establish a national patient registry for children and adults with kidney disease with an emphasis on rare (< 1 in 2000) and genetic diseases.
Investigators: Maureen Lonergan
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Renal Medicine, Wollongong Hospital
The Relationship Between Treatment Adherence and Cognitive Impairment
This project aims to explore the relationship between cognitive function and adherence in CKD patients including those on dialysis after adjusting for potential confounders and evaluate strategies to improve adherence to therapies in this population.
Investigators: Karumathi Murali, Melissa Magil, Yulan Shen
ISLHD Sites and Departments: Wollongong hospital, Shellharbour Hospital, Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital
VALOR-CKD
Kidney Function Level: Stage 4-5 or eGFR 20-40
Investigators: Jane Holt, Hicham Cheikh Hassan, Yulan Shen, Donia George
Partners: Renal Service ISLHD, Tricida Inc.
Purpose: To evaluate the effect of TRC1010 on the progression of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and to evaluate the safety profile of TRC101 in CKD patients with metabolic acidosis.
Renal Staff Publications since 2020
Changing landscape of dialysis withdrawal in patients with kidney failure: Implications for clinical practice
Journal: Nephrology
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Jenny Chen
The change we seek: nephrology training in Australia and New Zealand
Journal: Internal Medicine Journal
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Jenny Chen
Optimising health care for people living with chronic kidney disease: Health-professional perspectives
Journal: Journal of Renal Care
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Debbie Pugh, Anna Lee, Mikki Smith
Prescribed Water Intake in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Journal: NEJM Evidence
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Jane Holt, Maureen Lonergan
Global Epidemiology, Health Outcomes, and Treatment Options for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Kidney Failure
Journal: Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Jenny Chen
Temporal changes and risk factors of death from early withdrawal within 12 months of dialysis initiation - a cohort study
Journal: Nephrology Dialysis, Transplantation
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Jenny Chen, Hicham Hassan
Changes in measures of cognitive function in patients with end-stage kidney disease on dialysis and the effect of dialysis vintage: A longitudinal cohort study.
Journal: PLoS One
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Karumathil Murali, Hicham Hassan, Maureen Lonergan
Lessons for the clinical nephrologist: ureteric obstruction secondary to blood clot after kidney biopsy.
Journal: Journal of Nephrology
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Daniel O'Hara, Hicham Hassan
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Herpes Zoster Vaccine in Patients with CKD.
Journal: Kidney International reports
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Karumathil Murali, Hicham Hassan
Peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis as a risk factor for cardiovascular events
Journal: Internal Medicine Journal
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Kirsten Hepburn, Maureen Lonergan, Hicham Hassan
Hemodialysis taping styles and their effect on reducing the venous dislodgement
Journal: Seminars in Dialysis
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Scott Dobson
Assessment of Dietary Sodium Intake using the Scored Salt Questionnaire in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Journal: Nutrients
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Jane Holt, Maureen Lonergan
Comparison of health literacy profile of patients with end-stage kidney disease on dialysis versus non-dialysis chronic kidney disease and the influencing factors: a cross-sectional study.
Journal: BMC Open
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Karumathil Murali, Maureen Lonergan
A retrospective study on the epidemiology of ANCA-associated vasculitis in two Australian health districts
Journal: Internal Medicine Journal
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Jane Holt
Breaking the adherence barriers: Strategies to improve treatment adherence in dialysis patients
Journal: Seminars in Dialysis
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Karumathil M Murali, Maureen Lonergan
Incidence and factors associated with geographical relocation in patients receiving renal replacement therapy
Journal: BMC Nephrology
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Hicham Hassan, Jenny Chen, Karumathil Murali
Associations between diabetes and sex with peritoneal dialysis technique and patient survival: Results from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry cohort study
Journal: Peritoneal Dialysis International: Journal of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Jenny Chen
Barriers and enablers to detection and management of chronic kidney disease in primary healthcare: a systematic review
Journal: BMC Nephrology
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Kelly Lambert
Polyunsaturated fatty acid food frequency questionnaire validation in people with end stage renal disease on dialysis
Journal: Nutrition and Dietetics
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Kelly Lambert, Jane Holt
Safety and Efficacy of Using Nuts to Improve Bowel Health in Hemodialysis Patients
Journal: Journal of Renal Nutrition
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Kelly Lambert, Maureen Lonergan
Multicentre registry data analysis comparing outcomes of culture-negative peritonitis and different subtypes of culture-positive peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients
Journal: Peritoneal Dialysis International: Journal of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis
ISLHD Renal Author(s): Jenny Chen