Episode 143: The Heart of Kidney Research - Why Your Story Matters

Kent Bressler speaks with Rachel Claudine and Dr. Sandy Gilbert from the National Kidney Foundation. They explore the groundbreaking KidneyCARE Study, a pioneering patient-centered research initiative designed to gather vital data directly from individuals living with various stages of kidney disease. Rachel shares her personal journey with Lupus Nephritis, emphasizing the significance of patient stories in advancing kidney health research. Dr. Gilbert highlights the study's aim to capture real-world patient experiences, offering insights into disease progression and treatment efficacy. Discover how this innovative registry is set to transform kidney care and empower patients, while also discovering how you can contribute to this vital research. For more information on the KidneyCARE Study and to participate, visit kidneycarestudy.org. About Our Guests: Sandy Gilbert, PhD is the Senior Director of Patient Outcomes Research at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), where she manages the KidneyCARE (Community Access to Research Equity)™ Study. Since joining NKF in 2024, she has focused on developing and overseeing this pioneering national kidney disease patient registry – the first to integrate patient-reported data with clinical data from electronic health records (EHRs). Rachel Claudin, BS, CCLS is the Patient-Centered Research Director at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). Her main work for the past three years has been focused on the advancement of the KidneyCARE Study. As a person living with Lupus Nephritis, she is excited for the patient- entered data collected by the Study to increase and improve kidney care research. Previous to the NKF, Rachel worked in hospital and hospice settings advocating for patients utilizing the shared decision-making model of healthcare. For more information on Kidney Solutions and to join our supportive community, visit kidneysolutions.org Host: Kent Bressler Producer: Jason Nunez Remember to keep breathing, and don't miss the next amazing episodes of Kent's Kidney Stories!