Research & Medical Resources

For the General Public

PKD Foundation leads the fight against PKD through vital research funding and patient education. Now drug therapies in cardiovascular health, Rapamycin, Somatostatin, Tolvaptan, Triptolide, and water therapies offer help and hope to the 12.5 million worldwide with PKD.

• PKD Clinical Trials
• Current PKD Research
• Discarded Kidney Donation

For Researchers

In 1984, the PKD Foundation funded its first research grant for $25,000. In 2008, the PKD Foundation funded nearly $4 million in PKD research. In fact, PKD scientists funded by the PKD Foundation have progressed from identifying mechanisms of cyst formation and growth to conducting clinical trials to test therapies in humans - unprecedented success in biomedical research.

• Funding Opportunities
• Current Research
• Research Core Resources
• Scientific Meetings
• Current Research Publications

For Medical Professionals

To provide medical professionals in depth information about various aspects of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), the PKD Foundation has teamed up with UpToDate®. UpToDate is an evidence based, peer reviewed information resource, available via the Web, desktop computer, and PDA.

The following UptoDate topics related to PKD are available:

• Autosomal recessive and dominant polycystic kidney disease in children
• Urinary tract infection in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
• Patient information: Polycystic kidney disease
• Hypertension in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
• Extrarenal manifestations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
• Genetics of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and mechanisms of cyst growth
• Diagnosis of and screening for ADPKD
• Course and treatment of ADPKD
• Renal manifestations of ADPKD

Learn more about UpToDate.

Educational Opportunities

Polycystic Kidney Disease: Translating Mechanisms into Therapy
American Society of Nephrology Renal Week
November 16-21, 2010
Denver, Colorado

The PKD Foundation is sponsoring a full-day medical education session on ADPKD at this year’s ASN Renal Week in Denver, Colorado. The session, titled Polycystic Kidney Disease: Translating Mechanisms into Therapy is co-chaired by John J. Bissler, MD and Benjamin D. Cowley, MD, who is the Chair of the PKD Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee. The course will focus on genes and proteins, basic mechanisms of PDK, imaging, complications and PKD clinical trials.

Click here for information about course registration.

Order PKD Educational Materials

To better serve you and your patients, we’ve created several free PKD educational materials for your office and waiting room.  Please contact Dave Switzer at daves@pkdcure.org to learn what information is available.

The PKD Foundation is not an accredited medical institution. It is a non-profit organization committed to raising funds for PKD research and awareness for one of the world's most common, life-threatening genetic diseases.