CORE Kidney
The CORE Kidney program at UCLA Health is a kidney health, research, and patient support initiative focused on chronic kidney disease and related conditions.
Clinical Excellence
CORE Kidney provides clinical care through programs focusing on specific kidney health states and related conditions.They provide clinical care for a range of kidney-related conditions, including polycystic kidney disease, Fabry disease, hypertension, and diabetic kidney disease, as well as services such as home dialysis and living donor evaluation. Care is delivered through a multidisciplinary approach involving multiple medical specialties.
Public Outreach
CORE Kidney focuses on community presence and engagement. This program conducts community outreach through in-person and virtual events that provide education on kidney health to patients, families, and the general public. These initiatives involve healthcare professionals and patient participants and address topics related to kidney disease, and treatment options so that patient involvement and disease prevention can be augmented in the general population. Some of their past events include,
- Gift of Life Health Fair by Pico Union
- CORE Kidney Monthly Chats
- Kidney Month Santa Monica City Council Proclamation
- Tournament of Roses Parade, 2024 and 2025
- 4 July Parade in Huntington Beach
- Tijuana Orphanage Drive
- CORE Kidney Galas
The program has collaborated with organizations such as the National Kidney Foundation, ADPKD Fundation and other kidney disease advocacy groups.
Research
This program has been involved in numerous clinical trials related to kidney disease and associated conditions, with ongoing studies in areas such as IgAN, Alport syndrome, PKD, Fabry, C3G, FSGS, membranous nephropathy, cardio-vascular outcomes, hypertension, diabetes, vasculitis, dialysis, transplant and genetic diseases.
Education
The program hosts free monthly educational events, including “Monthly Chats,” for patients, families, and healthcare professionals to learn about kidney health. These sessions cover topics related to kidney disease, treatment, and prevention.
The UCLA Living Kidney Donor Program is part of UCLA Health and is associated with the CORE Kidney Program. The program provides information and guidance for individuals considering living kidney donation. It also includes a medical and psychosocial evaluation process to assess donor eligibility for individuals who choose to donate a kidney to a family member, friend, or an unrelated recipient.
The Circle of CORE
The Circle of CORE is a patient support and advocacy group affiliated with the UCLA CORE Kidney Program. It is composed of current and former kidney patients, including individuals with chronic kidney disease, dialysis recipients, transplant recipients, and living donors. The group participates in peer support and educational activities related to kidney disease and kidney care. It has also been involved in public outreach efforts, including participation in the Rose Parade, which received media coverage highlighting its role in raising awareness of kidney disease.