Team Grant : Diabetes Mechanisms

CIHR Team Grant: Diabetes Mechanisms and Translational solutions

The Kidney Foundation has partnered with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes to support the Team Grant: Diabetes Mechanisms and Translational solutions.   

Purpose of the CIHR Team Grant

These team grants will assist multi-disciplinary teams of researchers to better understand the underlaying causes and pathophysiology of diabetes and develop improved prevention and treatment strategies. Patient engagement is a requirement for this funding opportunity.  

Importance to The Kidney Foundation of Canada 

Diabetes is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease in Canadians, and at least half of people with diabetes may show signs of early kidney damage.  Conversely, kidney failure can often lead to the development of diabetes. Targeting conditions which are related to the development of kidney disease can be instrumental in preventative strategies or halting disease progression, leading to increased quality of life. 

Funding and Partners

The Kidney Foundation of Canada is committed to partner in the CIHR-KFOC Funding Pool in diabetic kidney disease. This award will provide financial support to projects that include research relevant to interventions, strategies and treatments to prevent the development and slow the progression of kidney disease and improve outcomes. This can include, but is not limited to:

• individualizing the best diet to slow progression of kidney disease;
• determining the benefits and risks of specific diets (i.e. phosphate restriction, protein restriction, low salt etc.); and  
• exploring the impact of lifestyle factors (i.e. exercise, stress) on the risk of developing kidney disease, kidney disease progression and quality of life. 

This innovative competition is also supported by other organizations including JDRF Canada, Diabetes Canada, Fonds du recherche du Québec-Santé and MITACS. 

Funded work

Sodium Glucose Co-Transport-2 Inhibition Diabetes and Kidney Function Loss in Type 1 Diabetes (SUGARNSALT)

“The Kidney Foundation is proud to be part of this significant investment and support talented researchers and allied health care professionals who will address the complex kidney disease-diabetes relationship. Through improved intervention strategies and treatment options, diabetes does not have to be the leading cause of kidney failure.” 

– Elizabeth Myles, National Executive Director, The Kidney Foundation of Canada.