Northern Ireland Living Donor Database

• Research type

  Research Database

• IRAS ID

  343077

• Contact name

  Aisling Courtney

• Contact email

  aisling.courtney@belfasttrust.hscni.net

• Research summary

  The Northern Ireland Living Donor Database

• REC name

  HSC REC B

• REC reference

  25/NI/0020

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 Feb 2025

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion

• Data collection arrangements

  Prior to live donation individuals receive a series of education and information sessions by trained kidney education nursing professionals and kidney transplant coordinators. They are also attend for clinical monitoring and investigation as part of the preparation for living donation. During these clinical encounters the transplant coordinators explain to the patients the purposes of the Northern Ireland Living Donor Database, provide an information leaflet and consent for inclusion. It is made clear to the individual that their decision to be included or excluded from the database has no impact on their assessment or approval for live donation.

  The data stored in the database can be grouped into 4 categories:
  1.) Donor demographics e.g. gender, ethnicity, age at donation
  2.) Information relating to clinical tests carried out during the assessment process for donation
  3.) Information relating to the donation surgery; surgical details, post-operative complications
  4.) Long term outcomes e.g. development of hypertension, clinical and laboratory functions related to kidney function, subsequent pregnancies, date and cause of death

• Research programme

  The Regional Nephrology and Transplant Unit at Belfast City Hospital has a long history of epidemiological and clinical research. There are currently three active research fellowships of clinical trainees in the department. Multiple members of the team have appointments at local Universities. The unit has a strong track record of publishing work in high impact journals that has been aided by databases in Kidney Transplantation, Vascular Access and Peritoneal Dialysis. Northern Ireland is considered a world leader in live kidney donation. It enjoys one of the highest rates of live kidney donation in the world. Hence, formation of this database will allow the clinical team to carry out research which will inform not only local but international practice in regards to live donation.

• Research database title

  The Northern Ireland Living Donor Database

• Establishment organisation

  Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

• Establishment organisation address

  Grosvenor Road

  Belfast

  BT12 6BA