Understanding the Current Landscape of Kidney Disease in Canada to Advance Precision Medicine Guided Personalized Care

Abstract

Purpose of Review: To understand the impact of kidney disease in Canada and the priority areas of kidney research that can benefit from patient-oriented, precision medicine research using novel technologies. Sources of Information: Information was collected through discussions between health care professionals, researchers, and patient partners. Literature was compiled using search engines (PubMed, PubMed central, Medline, and Google) and data from the Canadian Organ Replacement Register. Methods: We reviewed the impact, prevalence, economic burden, causes of kidney disease, and priority research areas in Canada. After reviewing the priority areas for kidney research, potential avenues for future research that can integrate precision medicine initiatives for patient-oriented research were outlined. Key Findings: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains among the top causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and exerts a large financial strain on the health care system. Despite the increasing number of people with CKD, funding for basic kidney research continues to trail behind other diseases. Current funding strategies favor existing clinical treatment and patient educational strategies. The identification of genetic factors for various forms of kidney disease in the adult and pediatric populations provides mechanistic insight into disease pathogenesis. Allocation of resources and funding toward existing high-yield personalized research initiatives have the potential to significantly affect patient-oriented research outcomes but will be difficult due to a constant decline of funding for kidney research. Limitations: This is an overview primarily focused on Canadian-specific literature rather than a comprehensive systematic review of the literature. The scope of our findings and conclusions may not be applicable to health care systems in other countries.