AKI: a path forward

Abstract

The Kidney Research National Dialogue, supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, asked the scientific community to formulate and prioritize research objectives that would improve our understanding of kidney function and disease. High-priority objectives for AKI were identified, including enhancing training and collaborative opportunities, improving phenotyping and development of clinical tools, expanding our understanding of the pathophysiology and interaction between injury and reparative processes, and identifying determinants of long-term outcomes. Research in animal models must be translated to improve diagnosis and treatment of patients. The objectives identified by the Kidney Research National Dialogue provide the research community with future opportunities for improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of people with AKI.

Figure 1.

Multidisciplinary collaboration can facilitate the integration of diverse topics into a unified, iterative research program focused on improving the prevention, prognosis, treatment, and outcomes of AKI. Core investigative areas, in human and animal studies, include understanding pathophysiology, injury and repair mechanisms, enhancing diagnosis and stratification in clinical settings and within clinical trials, and developing the therapeutic armamentarium. Interaction among academia, industry, regulatory agencies, and funders is critical, and can synergize knowledge acquisition and translation. FDA, Food and Drug Administration; NIH, National Institutes of Health.