David A. Drew, MD, MS

Bridge Grant Pilot Program

Institution: Tufts Medical Center

How would you sum up your overall research focus in one sentence?

My research focuses on the intersection between kidney disease and cognitive function, with a particular emphasis on identifying risk factors, understanding structural brain abnormalities, and defining the best assessment methods to prevent cognitive decline.

Provide a brief overview of the research/project you will conduct with help from the grant.

With the help of this grant, I will set the stage for a longitudinal study examining key clinical outcomes and modifiable risk factors associated with hemodialysis and cognitive decline. The project aims to demonstrate the clinical importance of cognitive testing in hemodialysis patients while evaluating potential individual, dialysis unit, and policy interventions.

What inspired you to focus your work in this area?

I have seen many of my patients suffer from cognitive impairment, including young individuals. I am frustrated by the lack of treatment options.

What impact do you hope your research will have on people with kidney diseases?

I hope this research will serve as a critical first step in designing patient and community-level interventions that directly reduce the heavy burden of cognitive impairment in the hemodialysis population. Ultimately, the goal is to discover treatments or management strategies that can successfully prevent or slow down cognitive decline.

What has surprised you most about your career?

How long a research project can take – Now I always double my initial estimate!

What are the major challenges facing nephrology research today?

There are many good researchers but funding for basic and translational research has not kept up with our tremendous progress at the clinical trial level.

In one sentence, please describe the importance of having grant funding available through KidneyCure.

Bridge funding through KidneyCure is absolutely vital to sustain my protected research time, maintain a dedicated study team, and bridge a temporary gap between major NIH awards.

Something you may not know about me is…

My wife, children and I maintain a small but productive fruit, vegetable, and flower garden.

In my free time I like to…

see above!