The Canadian Glomerulonephritis Registry (CGNR) and Translational Research Initiative: Rationale and Clinical...

Area of Science:

• Nephrology and Kidney Diseases
• Immunopathology and Glomerular Injury
• Biomarker Discovery and Translational Research

Background:

• Glomerulonephritis (GN) is a significant cause of kidney failure, contributing to 20% of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) cases in Canada.
• Limited understanding of disease mechanisms and lack of biomarkers hinder effective treatment for GN.
• A national, collaborative approach is needed to collect clinical and biological data for GN research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a national, patient-centered clinical database and virtual biobank for GN research in Canada.
• To facilitate human-based molecular and clinical research to identify disease predictors and therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, prospective observational registry initiated in 2019 across nine Canadian tertiary care centers.
• Recruitment of adult patients with specific histopathological GN patterns within 24 months of biopsy.
• Collection of comprehensive clinical, histopathological, laboratory data, biospecimens (blood, urine, tonsil swabs), and quality of life questionnaires at baseline and every 6 months.

Main Results:

• The Canadian Glomerulonephritis Registry (CGNR) has been established, creating a national infrastructure for collaborative glomerular disease research.
• Longitudinal data and biospecimens are being collected to enable analysis of GN subtypes.
• The registry aims to identify disease predictors and potential therapeutic targets through clinical and molecular phenotyping.

Conclusions:

• The CGNR supports national collaborative efforts to study patients with glomerular diseases and their outcomes.
• This initiative is crucial for advancing the understanding and management of GN.
• Future analyses will focus on identifying key factors influencing kidney function decline and remission.