Local researchers win $2M to study dialysis problems

Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 10:30 AM EDT
Local researchers win $2M to study dialysis problems
Business Courier of Cincinnati

Cincinnati researchers have received more than $2 million in grant funding to study difficulties often experienced by dialysis patients.

Stenosis, or narrowing of the veins, often causes restricted access to the point in the body where blood is removed and then returned during dialysis.

The University of Cincinnati nephrology division and the Cincinnati Dialysis Access Research Program received awards to investigate why arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients are often unsuccessful. Arteriovenous fistulas connect the artery and vein in dialysis patients and are essential for the removal and purification of blood during hemodialysis.

Dr. Prabir Roy-Chaudhury and colleagues were awarded $1.7 million from the National Institutes of Health to organize a clinical trial to identify the reasons that fistulas don’t develop properly in the body.

In addition, the team received a VA Merit Review grant of $600,000 to look into the causes of fistula failure, such as blood flow abnormalities and cellular stress.

Roy-Chaudhury said the grants will allow researchers to explore new pathways to prevent dialysis access dysfunction and improve the quality of life for dialysis patients.

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