Overview:
The AKDN offers an opportunity for qualified and motivated research trainees to undertake clinical research in kidney disease. Candidates would typically be accepted after completion of their Nephrology training (MD candidates) or during performance of their graduate studies. Successful candidates must be supervised by at least one member of the AKDN.
Eligibility:
Candidates must apply for, or have been accepted into a full-time graduate program at an Alberta-based university in a health-related discipline leading to a graduate degree. An undergraduate degree in biostatistics, community health sciences, or a related discipline, meeting the requirements of the graduate training program at the
University of Calgary
http://chs.myweb.med.ucalgary.ca/Home.html
or the University of Alberta
http://www.phs.ualberta.ca
or an MD degree is required. It is not mandatory for Nephrology fellows to have research experience, although this would be viewed favorably in the selection process. Candidates who are not already enrolled in a graduate program in Alberta would be expected to apply for entrance into a graduate program at the University of Calgary or the University of Alberta. Acceptance into one of these programs, while not mandatory, would be viewed favorably.
Training Opportunities:
Research interests in the AKDN include Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Services Research, Clinical Trials, Meta-analysis techniques and Health Economics as they relate to patients with kidney diseases. Examples of current AKDN research projects can be found at Specific Research projects page.
The research interests and experience of each member of the AKDN can be found at the Researcher Profiles page.
The Alberta Kidney Disease Network is a collaborative research network of Nephrology researchers at the Universities of Calgary and Alberta. At its inception, the AKDN was originally focused on research using data from a laboratory network that includes information on the majority of patients who have a serum creatinine measured as part of their routine care in Alberta. All such patients have been entered, in a confidential fashion, into a networked database using computerised laboratory data available from the majority of Alberta's health regions. These data are linked, in a confidential manner, to Alberta Health and Wellness to furnish detailed demographic data, as well as data on physician contact, hospitalisation data, survival and medication use. The data is then linked to the Southern and Northern Alberta Renal Program (SARP, NARP) computerized databases, which contain detailed information for patients with severe CKD (i.e. dialysis and transplant patients). Since its inception though, the vision of the AKDN has spread beyond this laboratory network. The mission of the AKDN is to undertake clinical research and research training in kidney disease in five key areas: clinical epidemiology; health services research; clinical trials; meta-analyses; and health economics. The aims of the research conducted within the AKDN are to study and evaluate trends in the prevalence of kidney disease and adequacy of care for patients with kidney disease, and to implement and evaluate strategies to improve the health and well-being of individuals with kidney disease. As such, current projects within the AKDN span the research fields noted above. Student projects may involve laboratory data from the AKDN or other appropriate research data from the AKDN supervisor. In addition to performing research, applicants are strongly encouraged to engage in ongoing graduate training.
This is offered through Community Health Sciences at the
University of Calgary
http://www.ucalgary.ca/communityhealthsciences/
or Public Health Sciences at the University of Alberta
http://www.phs.ualberta.ca/
Supervisors:
Successful candidates would be supervised by a member of the AKDN with a productive record of clinically-oriented research in kidney diseases. Sufficient resources will be available to ensure the satisfactory conduct of the research. A list of potential supervisors and their research interests can be found at the researcher profiles page
Funding:
Salary support for trainees is not available from the AKDN. However, the AKDN will sponsor the salary award application of appropriate trainees to the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca
the Canadian Institutes of Health Research,
http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/193.html
or the Kidney Foundation of Canada
http://www.kidney.ca/?gclid=CN_h05vFoqACFQ8eDQodL09kbA
In exceptional circumstances, the AKDN may offer bridge funding for outstanding candidates. Given that funding deadlines for these agencies may be up to 10 months before commencement of funding, trainees are advised to investigate these opportunities well in advance.
Applications:
For more information, or to submit an application, please contact
Dr. Braden Manns (Calgary)
Braden.Manns@albertahealthservices.ca
or Dr Brenda Hemmelgarn (Calgary)
Brenda.Hemmelgarn@albertahealthservices.ca
or Dr. Scott Klarenbach (Edmonton)
swk@ualberta.ca
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