Policy & Public Affairs

Research in Kidney Disease

The American Society of Nephrology is dedicated to supporting, funding, and enhancing medical research in the area of nephrology. Via advocacy for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—particularly the National Institute for Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)—the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other funding agencies, ASN urges increased federal funding for medical research in divisions of nephrology. In addition, the Society addresses myriad issues in divisions of nephrology that may impact the success of investigators pursuing research in kidney disease.

Research Opportunities

• NIDDK Funding Opportunities
• NIH RePORT
• Renal Function and Chronic Kidney Disease in Aging (R01)
• Renal Function and Chronic Kidney Disease in Aging (R21)
• Advances in Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Ancillary Studies of AKI, CKD, and ESRD Accessing Information from
• Clinical Trials, Epidemiological Studies, and Databases
• Non-Invasive Methods for Diagnosis and Progression of Diabetes, Kidney,
• Urological, Hematological and Digestive Diseases and Hypertensive Disorders
• Secondary Analyses in Obesity, Diabetes and Digestive and
• Kidney Diseases

Budget and Appropriations

FY 2010 Appropriations Measures

• Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education,
• and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
• Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2010
• Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and
• Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Documents

• Federal Research Funding: An Historical Perspective
• Community Letter Opposing SBIR Reauthorization Act, 2010 (S.1233)
• ASN Letter in Support of House Version of SBIR Reauthorization
• Act (H.R. 2965)
• ASN Letter of Concern for Senate Version of SBIR Reauthorization
• Act (S. 1233)
• ASN Urges Congress to Support NIH in FY 2009
• ASN Encourages NIH to Fully Support Kidney Disease Research in FY 2009
• ASN Urges Increased Funding for Research Benefiting Our Nation's
• Veterans
• ASN Urges Congress to Prioritize Health Services Research,
• Increase AHRQ Budget in FY 2009
• ASN Research Advocacy: Federal Budget and Appropriations Timeline

Public Comment and Advocacy

ASN leads and participates in various coalitions of like-minded societies that advocate on behalf of medical research. Both individually and in association with these coalitions, ASN often publicly comments on the need for increased federal support for medical research. In this section, ASN will also publicize external statements by federal leaders that advocate for medical research.

Coalitions to which ASN Belongs

• The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research is a coalition in support of
• increased funding for the National Institutes of Health. ASN serves as a member of the Ad Hoc Group Steering Committee.
• The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) is a coalition
• representing 90 national academic, medical, and scientific societies; voluntary health and patient advocacy groups; and veteran-focused associations that advocate for appropriate funding for the research and health programs that serve the nation's veterans. ASN serves on the FOVA executive committee.
• The Coalition for Health Funding is a nonprofit alliance of 50 national health
• organizations that works in a nonpartisan fashion to ensure that health discretionary spending remains highly visible as Congress and the Administration set federal budget priorities.
• The Friends of AHRQ is a voluntary coalition of more than 130
• organizations—the producers or end-users of the health services research developed by AHRQ—that support the agency.
• Research!America is an alliance of over 500 organizations dedicated to
• supporting medical research. Members include academic Institutions, hospitals, and independent research institutes; business and industry; voluntary health organizations, trade associations, and coalitions; professional societies; state and local organizations; foundations and philanthropies; and international associates.

National Institutes of Health

• NIH Update
• ASN Submits Kidney Disease Fact Sheet to the NIH
• Dr. Francis Collins Sworn in as NIH Director
• ASN Offers Recommendations to President-Elect Obama on
• NIH Research (1/5/09)
• ASN Submits Proposal for Future NIH Common Fund Initiatives (6/2/08)
• NIDDK Director Griffin P. Rodgers, MD, Releases Statement for
• National Kidney Month (3/21/08)
• Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Submits Letter in Support of
• Specter-Harkin Amendment (3/11/08)
• Congress Incorporates ASN Language to Encourage Increased Funding
• for Kidney Disease Research in FY 2008

VA Medical and Prosthetic Research

• Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research's (FOVA's)
• FY 2009 Budget Proposal
• FOVA Testifies on the Value of Research as a Recruitment and Retention
• Tool in the VA Health Care System (4/9/08)
• FOVA Submits Statement for the Record on the US Department of Veterans
• Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2009 (2/7/08)
• Senators Akaka and Craig Sponsor "Dear Colleague" Letter in Support
• of VA Research (6/6/07)
• FOVA Urges Obama Administration to Increase VA Research Funding,
• Including Funds for Facility Improvements, in FY 2010 (1/16/09)
• As Congress Negotiates Appropriations, FOVA Encourages Both Chambers
• to Fully Fund VA Research in FY 2009 (9/19/08)
• FOVA Asks VA, Congress to Set Aside Funding for VA Research
• Infrastructure Improvements (7/22/08)

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

• Friends of AHRQ Sends Letter Advocating for Additional Health
• Services Research Funding (3/4/08)

US Food and Drug Administration

• ASN Comments on American College of Physicians'(ACP's) Draft Policy
• Monograph, "Improving FDA's Regulation of Prescription Drugs" (5/8/08)

Research Issues of Interest

Health Disparities

• Health Disparities and CKD Background Summary

Comparative Effectiveness Research

• A Comparison of CER Legislation in the House vs. Senate
• Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act of 2009

Peer Review

• NIH Announces Final Recommendations to Enhance Peer
• Review System (6/6/08)
• NIH Draft Report on Final Recommendations to Enhance Peer
• Review (2/28/06)

Physician-Scientist Workforce

• ASN Sponsors First Phase of the APM Physician-Scientist Initiative (6/17/08)

Historical Documents

• NIH in the post doubling era: Realities, Strategies, Vision; Presentation
• by Elias A. Zerhouni, MD, at Renal Week 2006
• American Society of Nephrology Renal Research Report,
• JASN, May 11, 2005
• ASN Research Goals & Recommendations for Kidney Disease, 2005
• Major Research Developments in Nephrology in the Last 10 Years