The Australasian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN) operates under the Centre for Health Services Research at the University of Queensland’s Faculty of Medicine and is located at the Princess Alexandra Hospital campus, Woolloongabba.
It is a not-for-profit research organisation that designs, conducts and supports investigator-initiated clinical trials with the aim of improving life for people with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). It consists of a group of Nephrologists and other doctors, nurses, researchers, dieticians, scientists and other health professionals who conduct clinical trials in kidney disease. Because of their interest in kidney disease and kidney health, they want to find better treatments for people living with kidney disease. All AKTN clinical trials are designed with patients with kidney disease in mind. A patient with kidney disease sits on the Scientific Committee as a consumer representative to ensure AKTN trials consider quality of life, symptoms and treatments important to people with kidney disease.
To date, the AKTN have successfully completed eleven trials. We have a number of active trials and currently developing new trials. Our research helps bring evidence to medical practice and in doing so improve outcomes for CKD patients. Please see our completed trials and annual reports for more.
The Network is managed by three groups, The Executive Operations Secretariat (EOS), the Scientific Committee and the Advisory Board. The Executive Operations Secretariat runs the daily operations of the network and is based in Brisbane, the Scientific Committee provides the scientific leadership and the Advisory Board reviews the strategic management of the network.
For a full list of our partners, please see Partners.
History
The need for a clinical trials network in the area of kidney disease was recognised by both the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN) Council and Kidney Health Australia (KHA). In late 2003, ANZSN and KHA asked for expressions of interest to form this Network and in 2004 the Network involving a Brisbane-based Operations Secretariat was endorsed by ANZSN and KHA to pursue the initiation and running of the Network.
Since then, a group of national leaders in Nephrology, representing geographically diverse locations and special interests have cooperated in forming the Network. KHA provided seed funding from 2005-2007 which enabled the Network to commence operations. The inaugural face-to-face meeting of core members of the Network’s Operations Secretariat and Scientific Committee occurred on 10 November 2004 to finalise AKTN processes, including those related to governance and trial proposals.
The functions of the Network
The AKTN conducts and supports a broad range of research concerned with the prevention and treatment of kidney disease, emphasising patient-centred outcomes. The scope of research includes:
- clinical trials in both paediatric and adult populations;
- secondary prevention trials in high risk populations such as those with diabetes, indigenous groups, and those with proteinuria;
- trials in patients with end-stage kidney disease, in particular the kidney dialysis and kidney transplant populations;
- trials in patients with acute kidney failure.
Get involved
There are a number of ways to become part of the Network and help us improve quality of life for those with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
- Click here if you would like to join one of our Boards or Committees
- Click here if you have CKD and would like to become a consumer representative
- Click here if you have a trial idea and would like to submit a proposal
- Click here if you are a student and interested in PhD opportunities