BACKGROUND
The Kidney Dialysis Foundation’s (KDF) existing mission to look after the well being of kidney patients stricken with end stage kidney diseases, the Board of KDF has embarked on its next strategic mission to identify and support research work that lead to the prevention and cure of kidney failure due to diabetes and other complications. To facilitate this, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the KDF was amended on 7 December 2006 and consent granted from the Commissioner of Charities on 15 March 2007. The Board of Directors on 25 May 2007 restricted fund designated “Research Fund” be set up.

AREAS OF RESEARCH
As 50% of the new dialysis patients are due to diabetic complication of the kidney, a cure of diabetes will reduce the need for dialysis drastically. Through research, KDF aims to move up-stream and support research projects that will lead to the prevention of kidney failure and the need for expensive dialysis treatment. The other possible areas of research would be in area for alternative therapy to replace the existing dialysis treatment

RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
To facilitate the review of research projects for their scientific and medical merits, the Board of Directors have commissioned the Research Advisory Committee to be set up under the Chairmanship of Prof Yap Kim Hui, Senior Consultant, Head, Division of Paediatric Nephrolog, Immunology and Urology, National University of Singapore. Other members of the Research Advisory Committee are Associate Professor Lina Choong, Associate Professor Evan Lee and Dr Grace Lee.

WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
A working relationship is being established with the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, to provide the resources and infrastructure required to monitor and evaluate the progress of specific projects funded by the KDF Research Fund.