Clinical trials for kidney health Innovations that include everyone
Clinical trials are about making sure new drugs, treatments, or medical devices work for everyone. Yet, Black and Hispanic communities remain underrepresented in kidney research, even though they are most impacted by the disease.
What are clinical trials?
Clinical trials are a type of research that studies the safety of a new treatment (such as a new medicine, medical procedure, or device) and how well it works in people.
When you take part in clinical trials, you help researchers learn about:
- Rare kidney disease
- New and better treatments for kidney disease
- Better ways to help more people get the kidney care they need
Why do we need different people to join clinical trials?
Treatments can work differently for everyone. Ethnicity, gender, age, and other factors make us all different. To make sure treatments work for everyone, we need to study how they work in people from all different backgrounds.
People who join clinical trials are the key to finding new treatments for kidney disease
What to know before you join a trial
Understanding the types, phases, benefits, and costs of clinical trials can help you decide if a trial is right for you. Use this guide to learn what to expect and how to get involved.
Clinical trials help researchers find better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat kidney disease. Learn about the different types of trials, why diverse participation matters, how to get involved and explore why your voice counts in kidney research.
Clinical trials move through four phases to test safety and effectiveness before treatments reach the public. Learn more about how each step helps ensure new therapies are safe, effective, and available sooner for those who need them.
Participating in a clinical trial has both advantages and disadvantages. You may benefit from new treatments and contribute to kidney research, but there can also be risks, extra costs, or time commitments. Learn how to weigh the pros and cons before joining a trial.
Not all medical care during a clinical trial is free. Some costs may be covered by your health insurance (like Medicare, Medicaid or private plans), while others may not. Learn what services are free and what might be billed to you or your insurance.
Why join a clinical trial?
Treatments can work differently from person-to-person, and we need to study how they work in people from all different backgrounds. Diversity in clinical trials saves lives.
Many clinical trials do not include the different types of people with kidney disease. Black and Hispanic people are more likely than white people to have kidney failure, also called end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), but only 1 in 10 clinical trial participants are Black or Hispanic.
By the numbers
- 1 in 3
Black people make up more than 1 in 3 people with kidney failure.
- 2X
Hispanic people are nearly 2 times more likely to have kidney failure compared to other White persons.
- 1 in 10
But only about 1 in 10 clinical trial participants are Black or Hispanic, while nearly 7 in 10 participants are non-Hispanic.
How clinical trials work?
Since clinical trials are a form of health care, there are safeguards in place to protect participants. Before joining a clinical trial, you will fill out an informed consent form. This form explains all the details of the study so that you clearly understand what you will be asked to do as a participant. Learn about Participant Bill of Rights
Participants in a clinical trial may:
- Access new treatments
- Receive low or free care
- Receive more attention to your condition
- Help other people by contributing to medical research
How to find a clinical trial
To find a clinical trial, start by talking to your doctor. They can help you understand which trials may be a good fit for your condition and health goals. You can also search online registries, such as ClinicalTrials.gov, to explore available studies. Kidney health organizations are another great resource for learning about current trials and getting connected with research opportunities. Talk to your doctor about clinical trials.
Get involved and join the fight
Join AKF's movement for kidney health equity. Learn how to become a Kidney Health Coach, apply for grants, partner with us, train as an advocate, or share your story to help prevent kidney disease and support communities.
Participating in Clinical Trials
AKF Ambassador Patrick Gee shares why he chose to take part in a clinical trial. His story is a powerful reminder of how participation from people of color helps build a healthier future for all.
"Participating in clinical trials is important because your life matters, your health matters and future generations matter. And by doing this, that's one step toward mending a broken healthcare system." Patrick Gee
Read Patrick's story
Resources
Resources and tools
Learn about preventing and managing kidney disease.
- Talk to Your Doctor Guide
- Home Dialysis Decision Aid
- Talk with your patients about home dialysis: Learn the OARS technique
- Your guide to kidney transplants
- Post transplant toolkit
- Genes to Generation: Know your family’s health history
- Talk With Your Patient about Clinical Trials
- Talk To Your Doctor about Clinical Trials
- Organ and Tissue Donation Myths Debunked
- Kidney Health for All resources
Test your knowledge
Take this quick quiz to check your understanding of clinical trials and how impactful diverse participation ensures everyone's voice counts in kidney research