Angela Watt

New blood marker can predict individuals most at risk of kidney failure. Dr Laura Denby, and collaborators at the University of Edinburgh and Queen’s University Belfast, have discovered a new biomarker in the blood for chronic kidney disease (CKD). This marker identified patients at a higher risk of faster chronic kidney disease progression, which in the future could be used to inform earlier interventions to help protect kidney health. Read more on the teams study here: bit.ly/4jvbn0b

Exciting news for early career researchers (ECR) focusing on renal breakthroughs 👇 We’re launching our ECR bursaries, designed to support researchers at a crucial stage of their career and help build momentum in kidney research. These will allow ECRs to take advantage of valuable development opportunities that will enhance your research skills, networks, and career progression. Funding can be used to support attendance at upcoming events such as UK Kidney Week (UKKW). This exciting new scheme will create opportunities and support that’ll empower the next generation of kidney researchers. Closes for applications on 01 February. For more information and details about how to apply, click here: bit.ly/4jyPygd

(1) 2025 was a busy year for our policy and external affairs team. They started the year by hosting a parliamentary roundtable on health inequalities, co-chaired by kidney patient Fez Awan and our chief executive @cranford59. #KidneyPatient Daniel Newman movingly shared his personal story of living with #KidneyDisease. It launched a useful consensus on how we need to collectively take action to tackle #HealthInequalities in kidney disease

Nobody warns you how hard it will be to get a staff group photo – how did we do? Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from us to you! 🎅 2025 has been an incredible year, in more ways than one. Here are just a few highlights from the year. • Our chief executive, Sandra Currie, receiving an OBE in recognition of Services to People Affected by Kidney Disease in the King’s 2025 New Year Honours list. • Awarded 44 grants, totalling £4.5 million, to dedicated researchers on the same mission as us – to end kidney disease • In May, we hosted a parliamentary reception in Westminster with Vantive Health to shine a spotlight on the realities of living with kidney disease with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, in attendance • Our work appeared in 380 media stories, reaching new audiences with more than 1.35 billion opportunities to be seen • Between our four bridges walks this year, we had 86 volunteers, donating approximately 430 hours None of this would be possible without our supporters, volunteers, ambassadors, lay advisory group members, researchers, corporate supporters, research grants committee, and trustees. We already have so much planned for 2026, we cannot wait to see what else it brings💜

It’s #TrusteesWeek and we’re sharing insights into what inspired some of our trustees to join our team dedicated to ending kidney disease. Our trustees are crucial to our success. The charity relies on its loyal and hardworking experts who volunteer so much of their time to oversee our work and help us drive forward our progress in creating change for kidney patients across the UK. We’re truly grateful to all our trustees and their unwavering support. You can meet the whole team here: bit.ly/47Dfd1O

What does our new report mean for kidney patients? “The report, to me, is finally recognition that these rare diseases actually exist.” It's been one month since the launch of our new report ‘Collectively common: the devastating impact of rare kidney diseases in the UK’. Hear from patients, and report authors and contributors, on why this report is so important for the future of kidney patients. See for yourself and read our top 10 key findings and 14 recommendations here: bit.ly/47Wdp5Z