Oxford Academic Kidney Network Events
Oxford Academic Kidney Network Launch and Inaugural Symposium
On the 1st of April, Oxford saw the launch of the Oxford Academic Kidney (OAK) Network with its first symposium, supported by Kidney Research UK (KRUK).
OAK aims to bring together clinicians, researchers, students, nurses and trainees in an interdisciplinary network to tackle key challenges in kidney research and its translation to patients.
For the inaugural symposium, a total of 110 attendees enjoyed talks, posters and networking. Seventeen principal investigators, including several KRUK funded scientists, gave flash talks to highlight the variety of research being undertaken. Seven more junior scientists gave in-depth presentations of their work. The networking breaks allowed people from different backgrounds and seniority to discuss mutual interests and potential collaborations.
Oxford researcher Jessica Kepple, who is funded by Kidney Research UK, presenting her poster at the symposium
The patient discussion panel at the Oxford Academic Kidney Network Symposium
A highlight of the day for many people was the patient discussion panel, which included 4 individuals affected by kidney disease. All of these people are currently involved in clinical trials in Oxford. The session highlighted the real-life impact of the research being conducted in Oxford and the how participants view the clinical trial process.
Feedback from the day has highlighted the continued need and enthusiasm for collaborations and engagement between different research areas as well as the need for more integration between clinical and research focuses.
Overall, the day was a huge success and OAK look forward to more collaborative days in the future. Immediate plans for the network include the launch of a website, as well as starting focus groups to address challenges such as data management, translational work, communication and engagement in the field of kidney disease in Oxford.