Grant: SPOR Networks - Knowledge Mobilization and Implementation Science

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex condition that affects 1 in 10 Canadians and is estimated to cost Canadian healthcare more than $50 billion each year. Patients with CKD have often been excluded from clinical studies because of the complexity of their condition. Where evidence does exist, the uptake of the latest science into care has been slow. The Can-SOLVE CKD Network was created to overcome the challenges of translating scientific discoveries into health care. Our network is Canada's largest-ever kidney research initiative - a national partnership of patients, caregivers, health care providers, policy-makers, and kidney doctors working together to improve the quality of care for people with kidney disease. In the network's first phase, we conducted 18 research projects based around what matters most to patients: identifying CKD in high-risk populations; testing new therapies in those with progressive CKD; and determining how best to deliver innovative patient-centered clinical care. The second phase of the Can-SOLVE CKD Network will focus on three main goals: 1) spread and use the knowledge generated by the network's research projects; 2) diversify the kidney research environment to advance Indigenous cultural competency and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI); and 3) build capacity for patient-oriented kidney research, including educational resources, training, and sustainable infrastructure. We will focus on nine projects that will apply and spread research evidence on new interventions, products, tools, and other learnings generated to date. Our network is uniquely positioned to create sustainable integrated pathways to bring the latest science into practice for easy and fair access to the best-recommended kidney care for all Canadians.