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Programs & Services

Renal Transplant Program

Transplant Research

The renal transplant program is involved with different research studies. Research is important to help discover new medications and better or alternative treatments. All medications that are prescribed to patients have been tested through research studies before they were available for sale.

We are involved in many different types of research studies:

  • New medications not yet available for sale to see if they offer any new benefits to kidney transplant patients and to make sure that they are safe to use.
  • New ways of using older medications and looking at different combinations of medications.
  • We have also been involved with findings answers to the following types of questions:
    • Is a certain type of cholesterol lowering medication (statin) also able to change blood pressure and kidney function?
    • Are certain types of blood pressure medications (angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors) able to help protect kidney transplant function? Do different seasons ie. winter and summer, have a different effect on blood pressure?
    • Do blood pressure measurements change depending on whether a nurse is alone compared to if a nurse and a doctor are both present while the blood pressure is measured? What factors or characteristics are responsible for this change?
    • What do kidney transplant patients like and dislike about their current medications to prevent rejection?
    • Kidney transplant patients may be asked to consider volunteering for research studies either at the time of transplant or sometime after they have received their kidney. Research is always voluntary. It is important for potential research participants to make sure that they understand the risks and benefits of volunteering for a study.


Contact Us

To learn more, contact the transplant research office at 416-867-3692.