Research summary
Almost one billion people worldwide are living with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure. By the time a person reaches kidney failure, they are usually suffering from a range of complex symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, itch, restless legs, insomnia and poor appetite. As Canada Research Chair in Kidney Supportive Care, Dr. Sara Davison aims to improve symptom management for those suffering from these conditions.
She and her research team are using the National Institute of Health Symptom Science Model to characterize the phenotypes of complex symptoms throughout the progression of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. They will then determine the proteomic and metabolomic biomarkers that foretell these symptoms and develop personalized, targeted strategies to support prevention or early diagnosis. Davison’s research has the potential to transform care and provide hope for people living with chronic kidney disease.