UAB National Coordinating Center for the George M. O'Brien Kidney National Resource Centers

For over 30 years, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has funded the O’Brien Kidney Center program to advance kidney-related research. To expand the breadth and impact of these centers, NIDDK has modified this program by establishing the George M. O’Brien Kidney Resource Alliance (OKRA). This consortium includes 7 theme-based National Resource Centers (NRCs) tasked with developing and sharing specialized resources, tools, technologies, services, and expertise and a National Coordinating Center (NCC) to lead, manage, and harmonize all aspects of the Consortium. We serve as the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) National Coordinating Center for the OKRA Consortium. Led by an epidemiologist (Dr. Amanda Anderson) and nephrologist (Dr. Orlando Gutiérrez) and supported by nephrologists, biostatisticians, kidney physiologists, health behaviorists, and strong research mentors, the NCC investigator team is interdisciplinary with extensive experience leading and participating in NIDDK-sponsored consortia. UAB has the infrastructure and requisite experience to successfully lead the NCC including (1) An established Data Coordinating Center Unit that has supported NIH-funded multi-center networks, implemented pilot and Opportunity Pool programs and hosted centralized website and data management systems, (2) Patient and community engagement committees and programs to integrate their feedback on research initiatives, (3) Drug development/ entrepreneurship expertise to facilitate the translation of research into better patient outcomes, and (4) Training programs that provide support for early-stage investigators that spurs innovation and enhances impact of their research. The UAB OKRA NCC has five aims including (1) Providing administrative support, facilitating communication and coordination, and enhancing synergy by implementing standard operating procedures and sub-committees for the O’Brien consortium; (2) Creating and maintaining a centralized website and resource request intake portal to facilitate and track all requests for OKRA resources from the NRCs; (3) Implementing an outreach and training plan to engage researchers in collaboration with the OKRA NRCs; (4) Engaging patient viewpoints, priorities and preferences through feedback on the NRCs’ scientific aims and activities to inform the OKRA Consortium; and (5) Administering a national Opportunity Pool Program with high impact to support early-stage investigators, investigators new to kidney research and collaborations with the broader kidney community. The UAB NCC will support NIDDK and the OKRA Consortium to advance kidney research nationwide maximizing the impact on improving kidney health.