Patients
Research holds the key to better treatments, health, and quality of life.
As a person living with or affected by kidney disease, you have an important role to play.
Whether you are a patient, care partner, donor, or family member, you can make valuable contributions to research. The skills and experience you bring will help researchers understand what is most important to patients and develop better studies.
KidneyLink is your connection to kidney research teams across Canada looking to work with people like you!
What KidneyLink offers
Why get involved in research?
When patients are involved in research, the result is better studies shaped by real-life experience and focused on what matters most.
Aligning research goals with patient priorities produces information that can meaningfully improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of kidney disease.
Here’s how your voice and participation can make a difference
Your voice and lived experience are a vital part of supporting research and making it relevant to you and the community. You can help researchers understand how their studies will impact patient and families. Find a role that fits your schedule and preferences.
The time commitment will vary with the work you choose to do. The chart at right is a rough estimate of the time commitment one can make for any project.
You can talk to the researcher or their team members to get a better idea of what they need and how you can be a part of their project.
| Level of Involvement | Time Commitment |
|---|---|
| A) Participate in a study by completing surveys, taking part in interviews or focus groups, or testing new apps and websites. | Usually a one-time commitment, ranging from 15 minutes to several hours. |
| B) Review and provide feedback on information for patients and families, websites, educational materials, or similar resources. | Varies by project; often can be completed by email. |
| C) Participate in study design by contributing to the development of surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other study activities. | Meeting frequency varies depending on the project and stage of work (e.g., weekly, monthly, quarterly, or less often). |
| D) Help researchers interpret findings and identify key themes and insights. | Varies depending on the role and project. |
| E) Co-author research publications upon completion of the study, helping to write manuscripts and share study findings. | Varies by project. |
