Kidney Research UK

Due to the expansion of our marketing and communications team, we are seeking a new head of marketing and communications. You’ll have experience as a marketing and communications leader within the charity sector, with the ability to drive and inspire a team to bring ideas to life. Your main focus will be to significantly grow awareness and engagement with key audiences including patients, supporters, researchers, medical professionals and partners. To find out more and to apply, click here: https://bit.ly/3XpYJGy #Recruitment #Hiring

We wanted to highlight the work Roseline, the peer educators, and the team behind the HIDDEN-CKD project do in communities of African and Afro-Caribbean heritage. Most recently, they had their first ever event outside of London which was a huge success. There were talks on key statistics from our health inequalities report, a call to action on getting your kidneys tested, and discussions on consent and data issues. This is also an ideal opportunity for individuals in these communities to get their kidneys tested with simple blood tests for eGFR checks and urine samples. [Video description: Roseline is facing the camera explaining her work. It starts off blurred with her as a silhouette. The text 'We caught up with Roseline Agyekum about her work on the HIDDEN-CKD project.' is overlaid in white writing with a purple background. The video moves into Roseline talking. She is wearing a black and white dress and is stood in a hallway with a glass banister, white brickwork and the top half of a white statue behind her.]

Following on from the release of the Chancellors budget yesterday, we welcome a number of announcements which support the life sciences sector and kidney patients. 👇 - An increase in the Department of Health and Social Care’s resource spending by £22.6bn in 2025-26 and an increase in capital investment for health by £3.1bn in 2025-26. - We welcome increased funding for the NHS, but more detailed improvements to the healthcare system will not be announced until the Government publishes its 10-year plan, due in Spring 2025. We will be calling on the Government to prioritise prevention and early diagnosis of kidney disease, and access to treatments for patients. - We welcome the £520 million life sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund which will provide capital grants for investment in the manufacture of human medicines and medical technology (including diagnostics, and MedTech products). The Chancellor has also reaffirmed commitment to research and development tax credits at current rates for this parliament. - We welcome the uplift of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (known as the sugar tax) which will rise in line with inflation. However, we are disappointed to see no uplift to the Public Health Grant - which is crucial for funding weight management services – and hope to see this announced in the Spending Review. We will continue to engage with parliamentarians and ministers to make the case for kidney disease to be a higher priority for government and the NHS.

Did you know that approximately one in three patients with diabetes will go on to develop kidney disease? Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney failure in the UK. We have put together information on diabetes and kidney disease to help answer some important questions. Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3Od1BPr [Image description: a healthcare professional, wearing blue gloves, is holding a glucometer taking the reading of a patient. The image is focused only on their hands. The reading is 105mg/dL.]

We want to take the opportunity to share a great piece of work lead by the late, Professor (Stephen) Ben Walsh, who very sadly passed away in September. Ben was a much-respected researcher who was looking at the impact of space-conditions on kidney structure and function with fellow researcher Dr Keith Siew. Dr Aisling McMahon, executive director of research at Kidney Research UK said: "This study provides new information on the impact of space travel on the kidneys, and also opens the door to finding out how to protect kidneys from more common stresses such as radiation treatments for cancer and damage from kidney stones.” Read the full story and what this means for kidney patients here: https://bit.ly/4eWhasL

“Donating a kidney to give someone their life back is an indescribable feeling, and I’d encourage others to consider it.” Father-of-four Paul and his brother Kenny, 44, became the first siblings in the UK to altruistically donate organs, with Kenny having donated a kidney of his own three years previously. “When my brother donated a kidney to a stranger, I thought he was mad. Then I saw the difference it made in giving someone their life back, and I was inspired to do the same. I’m really proud of what my brother and I have done.” Read more about Paul’s story here: https://bit.ly/4e3nA8h Over 6,200 people in the UK are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, and six people die every week before they receive one. If you're interested in living kidney donation, visit Make Your Mark [Image description: Paul and Lynsey are standing next to each other smiling at the camera at a social event. Paul is in a purple Kidney Research UK t-shirt and Lynsey is in a white crop top with grey high wasted, smart trousers.]

Opportunity to join the leading kidney research charity in the UK! We have not one, but two exciting new positions within the research operations team. We are looking for: - Research portfolio manager: to ensure the successful delivery of our funded projects and help maximise the impact of our grants programme. Must have strong communication skills and an understanding of medical research and its funding landscape - Senior research officer: to ensure the charity effectively delivers its grants programme. Must have experience in a research funding organisation, grant funding processes, grants database and have a scientific background. If this sounds like your next challenge, click here to find the full job description and to apply: https://bit.ly/3umf9kS [Image description: an ombré background from pink down to purple, with the words 'we are recruiting' in bold. Underneath is the wording 'join the leading kidney research charity in the UK' with the Kidney Research UK logo. All wording and logo is white.]

We are looking for a senior communications officer – PR to join our team. This role is responsible for helping to raise our profile, highlighting the urgency and impact of our work. You will need to have worked in a similar role and have a proven track record of securing coverage, building and maintaining relationships, and be able to articulate our key messages to a range of audiences. The right candidate will need to be proactive, creative, skilled writer, able to work to tight deadlines, and have an attentive approach to sensitive situations. For more information and to apply, click here: https://bit.ly/4f9zHRN [Image description: an ombré background from pink down to purple, with the words 'we are recruiting' in bold. Underneath is the wording 'join the leading kidney research charity in the UK' with the Kidney Research UK logo. All wording and logo is white.]

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in the urinary tract which starts at the kidneys and flows through the bladder to the urethra. A UTI can be painful and uncomfortable, and if the infection spreads to the kidneys serious problems can result. We have put together everything you need to know about UTIs. https://bit.ly/3BNaqyA [Image description: A close up of hands, in blue latex gloves, holding a dipstick into a pot of urine. In the background is a blurred out model of a kidney showing different internal functions.]

We are excited to say our team is growing and we are now looking for a next life sciences policy manager. This new role will be key to delivering our 2020-2030 Strategy and push for real change to better the lives of people with kidney disease. You will need to have experience and knowledge in life sciences policy, research and innovation operational landscape, the UK political systems, and be confident in building important relationships. For more information and to apply, click here: https://bit.ly/3BQTQ0P Closing date: Thursday 14 November 2024 [Image description: an ombré background from pink down to purple, with the words 'we are recruiting' in bold. Underneath is the wording 'join the leading kidney research charity in the UK' with the Kidney Research UK logo. All wording and logo is white.]