Centre for Applied Health Research

Expanding the Kidney Information Network (KIN) to Innovate and Drive Impact

The award-winning Kidney Information Network (KIN) connects people living with chronic kidney disease in North of England. Innovation funding drives the creation of KIN UK; multiple resilient micro-communities, improving health literacy/equitable information access for >10,000 people living with CKD, carers and clinicians. 

The Kidney Information Network is a joint venture between the University of Salford, NHS trusts and kidney patients in response to patient demand to develop a mechanism to enable them to talk to other patients and share experiences. Bridging collaboration with leading charities/NHS Trusts to generate ‘live’ innovative sustainable research datahubs.

KIN micro-communities, set up as Facebook (FB) groups, connected via a KINET hub, service geographical locations. Cross-platforms are used: YouTube (Kidney Information Network), Twitter (@GMKINet), and Instagram to expand network reach. 

Currently, KIN consists of networks set up in

Additional sites are in development; if you wish to set up a KIN in your area please contact us using the form

Why set up a KIN?

Evidence demonstrates that KIN communities improve self-efficacy, build social capital, reduce isolation, improve mental health outcomes, increase users’ health awareness, and facilitate equitable access to information and support for people living with CKD. The KIN expansion creates multiple ‘live’ datahubs: to collate longitudinal patient/carer experience data, test future novel research solutions (AI), increase digital research capacity embedding new fellows (carers/digital methods), explore new placement opportunities for students and social media clinician education.

As part of the expansion and sustainability plans, KIN received institutional agreement to establish a KIN Community Interest Company.

Funding

RKE Innovation Strategy

Team  

Principal Investigators:

Paula Ormandy – Joint PI

Cristina Vasilica – Joint PI

Co-investigators:

Lisa Garwood-Cross – Co-Investigator (Social Media)

Ian Drumm – Co-Investigator (use of AI)

Currie Moore ­- Co-Investigator (Carer Research Lead)

Rachel Katz (Research Fellow)

Rob Finnigan – Co-Investigator (KIN Founder/ NW Clinical Network Patient Voice Lead)

Andy Henwood – Co-Investigator (KIN Patient Moderator)

Holly Loughton – Co-Investigator (KIN Patient Moderator)

Heather Jayasekara – Co-Investigator (KIN Information Manager)

Partners

Kidney Care UK – Mr Paul Bristow

Royal Liverpool Hospital NHS Trust – Patti OKane, Dr Asheesh Sharma

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Dr So Beng, Lisa Morris, Louise Proctor

Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust – Dr Rachel Middleton

Manchester Royal NHS Trust  – Kidney Patients Association – Guy Hill

York NHS Trust – Mr Paul Laboi

Bradford NHs Trust – Dr John Stoves

Association of Nephrology Nurses (ANN UK)