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This year (2025) marks a huge milestone for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. The Kidney Foundation of Canada is proud to have established a strong connection to CIHR from its inception to ensure a strong kidney-focus in Canada’s research environment.

CIHR is Canada’s federal funding agency for health research, established in 2000. It is the largest funder of health research in the country, supporting thousands of world-class researchers and projects across the country.

Since it began, CIHR has had a significant impact on our research program by setting the standard for research excellence in Canada. CIHR has helped to shape our research mandate, guide our peer review processes, and expand our capacity to improve the lives of kidney patients across the country.

From fellowships in nephrology and transplantation to research in kidney cancer and rare disease, we have partnered with CIHR on over 10 major grant programs over the years to create more opportunities for high-impact kidney research. To celebrate, we wanted to highlight some of our most impactful CIHR partnerships in recent years:

2005 – present: The Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training (KRESCENT) program (a partnership with the CIHR, the Canadian Society of Nephrology, and the Kidney Foundation).

Impact: Supported the development of over 100 kidney health researchers who are dedicated to improving the understanding and treatment of kidney disease. With 59% of alumni entering leadership positions, the KRESCENT program has created a sustained effort to prioritize kidney health and drive research excellence.

2021: The CIHR Team Grant for Diabetes Mechanisms and Translational Solutions.

Goal: Improve our understanding and treatment of diabetes, which is a leading cause of kidney disease for Canadians.
Co-funded project: The Sodium Glucose Co-Transport-2 Inhibition Diabetes and Kidney Function Loss in Type 1 Diabetes (SUGARNSALT) project, led by Dr. David Cherney.
Impact: Expanding the use of SGLT2 inhibitors to people with Type 1 diabetes to protect their kidneys.

2022: The Research Excellence, Diversity, & Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award.

Goal: To reduce barriers and support the development of early career researchers from specific underrepresented groups to increase research excellence across Canada.
Co-funded awardee: Dr. Ayodele Odutayo
Impact: Removing barriers to success for a researcher focused on preventing kidney and heart disease in people who are most at risk.

2025: The CIHR Team Grant for Embracing Diversity to Achieve Precision and Increase Health Equity.

Goal: Improve health equity and develop more personalized treatment options for Canadian from diverse groups.
Co-funded project: The EQUity in Predicting Re-hospitalization among people with Chronic Kidney Disease (EQUIP Re-CKD) research project, led by Dr. Meghan Elliott
Impact: Reducing the number of people living with kidney disease who experience quick re-hospitalization.

You can read more about all of these research projects and Initiatives at https://kidney.ca/Research/Supported-Research.

Our continued partnership with the CIHR has allowed us to leverage the generous support of our donors to make a larger impact for kidney patients. We are proud to continue these partnerships and more, leading the way to a healthier future for all Canadians living with kidney disease.

Read more about CIHR’s impact over the past 25 years at https://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/54265.html.