Chronic kidney disease affects about 37 million Americans, ranging from mild decline in kidney function to complete kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant. Current treatment focuses on controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, using ACE inhibitors or ARBs, and managing complications like anemia and bone disease. For people reaching kidney failure, options are dialysis or transplant.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing SGLT2 inhibitors that slow kidney decline, finerenone and other mineralocorticoid antagonists, drugs targeting kidney fibrosis directly, and new approaches to dialysis. Researchers are also studying artificial kidneys that could replace dialysis, cell-based therapies to repair damaged kidneys, and biomarkers to predict who will progress to kidney failure.
SGLT2 inhibitors
Diabetes drugs like dapagliflozin and empagliflozin slow kidney decline in people with and without diabetes. They're now used widely after trials showed they cut the risk of kidney failure by about 30 percent.
Anti-fibrotic drugs
Several drugs aim to stop or reverse the scarring that destroys kidney tissue. Trials are testing drugs that block TGF-beta, a protein that drives fibrosis, and other pathways that turn healthy kidney cells into scar tissue.
Wearable artificial kidney
Device trials are testing portable or implantable artificial kidneys that could replace dialysis machines. Early studies focus on safety and whether people can move freely while the device cleans their blood.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on kidney function level (measured by eGFR), amount of protein in urine, cause of kidney disease, and whether you're on dialysis or have had a transplant.
What types of trials are currently open
- Treatment trials — Testing new drugs to slow kidney decline, often comparing them to standard ACE inhibitors or ARBs. Many measure how fast kidney function drops over one to three years.
- Dialysis trials — Testing new dialysis schedules, home dialysis methods, or devices that make dialysis more effective or less burdensome.
- Transplant trials — Studies of new anti-rejection drugs, ways to expand the donor pool, or living donor kidney exchange programs.
- Device trials — Testing artificial kidneys, wearable dialysis devices, or bioartificial kidneys that combine technology with living kidney cells.
- Complication trials — Testing treatments for anemia, bone disease, heart problems, and other complications that come with kidney disease.
Recently added Chronic Kidney Disease trials
Receive brief controlled blood flow pauses to test heart and vessel protection
The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of repeated episodes of ischemic quenching on changes in blood pressure, heart rate and laboratory parameters of inflammation in patients with kidney diseases. There is credible evidence that intentionally producing periods of ischemia provides protection of the myocardium and blood vessels against subsequent ischemic injury. The examination will be performed during hospitalization in the Department of Nephrology, Hypertension, Transplantology and Internal Diseases and will last 4 days. On the first day, blood pressure will be measured using an automatic blood pressure monitor, radial artery pulse, blood saturation will be measured using a pulse oximeter, and approximately 6 ml of venous blood will be collected from the elbow bend area for laboratory tests. Then, compression of the lower limb below the knee will be performed using a blood pressure cuff. Four 5-minute cycles of inflation and deflation of the cuff will be performed. The pressure on the lower limb will be repeated on the next two days. On the last day of the examination, blood pressure, heart rate and blood saturation will be measured again, and approximately 6 ml of venous blood will be collected again for laboratory tests.
Take herbal granules to help slow kidney disease in older adults
This prospective real-world study will evaluate the clinical benefits of Niaoduqing Granules in older adults with impaired kidney function. Approximately 300 participants aged over 60 years with stage 3 to 5 chronic kidney disease who are not receiving dialysis will be enrolled at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University. The study will examine whether treatment with Niaoduqing Granules is associated with slower kidney function decline and improvements in nutrition, frailty, and other health outcomes. Participants will receive 5 g of Niaoduqing Granules three times daily after meals for 12 months, while continuing their usual treatment for chronic diseases as directed by their physicians. Kidney function, laboratory results, nutritional status, frailty, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and survival will be assessed during follow-up. Blood, urine, and stool samples will also be collected to study changes in gut microorganisms and blood metabolites that may help explain how Niaoduqing Granules affect health. Participants will be followed for up to 60 months.
Find Chronic Kidney Disease trials matched specifically to you
Answer 3 quick questions and we'll show you trials that fit your situation.