The KTRC’s mission is to promote and facilitate cutting edge translational research in all aspects of kidney diseases. One of the main roles is to house a comprehensive biorepository and provide infrastructure for translational research including biomarker discovery, outcomes and molecular genomics. KTRC provides clinical data and a variety of biospecimens (serum, urine, tissue, plasma, WBC pellet, DNA, frozen biopsies) from more than 3500 patients (adults and children) with diseases affecting the kidney. KTRC also provides assistance with regulatory procedures related to human studies, access to specimen processing and cryostorage facilities, and customized patient recruitment for specific research projects related to kidney disease. We implement latest technologies in genomics and patient and specimen-based research for investigators to be at the frontiers of kidney research and work with them to enhance their research towards personalized medicine and submitting cutting edge grant applications. The Center has and continues to build resources for several NIH funded consortia and clinical trials.  Ongoing technologies and resources being incorporated include procurement of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with kidney disease, making kidney organoids, engineering iPSCs with patient mutations or lineage reporters using genome editing, implementing various “omic” technologies using human specimens and developing innovative methods to economically use human tissue for multi omics single cell research . The KTRC has been or is supported by grants from the NIH and the Division of Nephrology.

Core Description

The main goal of the Washington University Kidney Translational Research Center (WUKTRC) is to serve as a state-of-the-art accessible repository for clinical information and biological specimens and assist researchers in implementing innovative translational technologies. It is critical that translational investigators have access to well-annotated, high quality clinical data and associated bio-specimens encompassing a wide spectrum of renal diseases and technologies to make new discoveries for personalized care.  The KTRC helps investigators to overcome these barriers by providing these physical and intellectual resources and an environment to make new scientific discoveries. KTRC’s focus on integration by sharing of clinical data and bio-specimens encompassing different kidney diseases from a centralized source promotes high quality, interdisciplinary translational research and economizes on scales.  By harmonizing patient enrollments, clinical data and a variety of specimens in one resources it minimizes burden on patients to participate in research and maximizes the utility of their data and specimens for use in research to ultimately find cures for their diseases.  This comprehensive center fosters collaborative efforts among the WU and extended research communities for rapid progress towards proof of concept diagnostic, prognostic and treatment approaches for kidney and urological diseases. The WU Kidney Translational Research Center will: Provide access to an extensive and comprehensive database consisting of detailed medical records obtained over time from patients with kidney disease [acute kidney injury; kidney cancer; chronic kidney disease; congenital kidney disease; end-stage renal disease (dialysis) & renal transplant patients]. Provide access to a large bio-specimen repository (blood, DNA, plasma, biopsies, tissues & urine) obtained over time from patients with kidney disease and healthy volunteers. Provide consultation in designing informed consent and IRB approval forms. Provide induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with kidney diseases, control iPSC or iPSC reporter lines or engineer iPSCs with patient mutations using genome editing methods Facilitate access to high throughput cores at WashU including genome technology access center and consultation for the feasibility of using different types of specimens for genomic studies. Consultation in grant applications

Access

Service available to All entities, including for-profit organizations.

Priority service for No distinctions.

Additional information:

WU KTRC Request and Use Forms May2019

Services

  • deidentified clinical data
  • deidentified biospecimens
  • blood processing
  • DNA preparation from human tissue or cells
  • RNA preparation
  • cryosectioning
  • cryostorage
  • IRB forms
  • consultation in kidney related translational research
  • iPSCs

Equipment

  • nanodrop
  • Q6 fast taqman machine
  • cryotanks
  • -80 freezers, cryostat, microtome
  • clinical centrifuge
  • Cryostat

Pricing

Please contact this core directly for pricing information.


AFFILIATIONS
Children’s Discovery Institute
Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS)
Siteman Cancer Center (SCC)
Genome Engineering and iPSC Center (GEiC)