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HRC Grant Awarded: REducing the PrOgression of diabetic kidney disease: a cluster Randomised Trial
Jan 22, 2025
We are thrilled to share that Dr. Viliami Tutone and Dr. Kalpa Jayanatha from the Counties Manukau Health Renal Department have been awarded a $1.4 million Health Delivery Project Grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) for an innovative project aimed at tackling diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in Auckland. The project team includes Dr. John Baker, Dr. David Simmons, Dr. Joanna Dunlop, and Dr. Sumudu Ranasinghe from the wider Counties Manukau Health and Aotearoa Clinical Trials teams.
This initiative was inspired by our local investigators, who recognised a critical gap in managing DKD during its early stages. Their vision has evolved into a collaborative partnership between primary healthcare organisations (PHOs) and secondary care services. Several prominent PHOs in the region, including ProCare, National Hauora Coalition, and Tamaki Health, are key collaborators in the project. Proudly hosted by Aotearoa Clinical Trials, the team is working together to address this significant healthcare challenge, with the potential to influence nationwide healthcare policy.
DKD is a serious complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus, affecting around 228,000 individuals in New Zealand, and is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease. Our project aims to reduce the progression of DKD by introducing a new integrated model of care in the metro-Auckland area. This approach addresses the care gap by providing primary care with additional resources, such as enhanced patient education, specialised training for healthcare professionals, and a platform for ongoing collaboration with diabetes and renal specialists. Through this model, primary care teams will receive expert guidance to identify patients who could benefit from intensified care and deliver it effectively.
We are excited to embark on this journey and look forward to sharing updates as the project progresses. A huge thank you to HRC NZ for supporting this important work!