History of the National Kidney Foundation's research efforts

The research programs of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) are designed to foster research and training in renal disease by providing cutting edge, excellent, state of the art training in basic science, clinical, and translational research. Since the inception of the Fellowship training program in 1968, the beginning of the Young Investigator Grant program in 1987, and the establishment of the Clinical Scientist Award in 1994, hundreds of nephrologists and basic scientists have been supported by the NKF research programs. The annual budget for the various research and training programs of the NKF has increased from approximately $80,000 to more than $1,000,000 for the Fellowship training program, from about $90,000 to more than $400,000 for the Young Investigator Grant program, and from $50,000 to $500,000 annually for the Clinical Scientist award for a total of more than $2,000,000 annually, while future plans are to expand the research budget to almost $3,000,000 annually. In addition to these programs to support outstanding research and training from the national office, many Affiliate chapters of the NKF also support research and training as a mission. It is the goal of the NKF that the research supported by the NKF will ultimately be translated into improved quality of care for patients with kidney disease. Because progress in many diseases is hampered by a lack of knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology of the disease, improved understanding of the mechanisms of renal disease will allow for the development of strategies to prevent or limit renal disease. The NKF is committed to continuing its focus on research and training as one of its major missions so that patients with kidney disease can live better lives in the next millennium.