Joubert Syndrome

Researchers are studying hepato-renal fibrocystic diseases HRFD, which include rare conditions like Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease ARPKD, Joubert syndrome, Bardet Biedl syndrome, Meckel-Gruber syndrome, congenital hepatic fibrosis, Caroli syndrome, oro-facial-digital syndrome, nephronophthisis, and glomerulocystic kidney disease. The study aims to create a coordinated clinical and genetic database to improve diagnosis, treatment, and research progress by sharing information and biological samples among institutions. Participants can contribute to a clinical database by allowing access to their medical records, which will be anonymized and entered into a shared database. Optional parts of the study include genetic testing through blood or saliva samples from the participant and their parents, as well as donating tissue samples collected during medical procedures or autopsies. These samples will be stored in specialized repositories to support future research. Participants will have their medical records reviewed periodically, with initial data entry and annual follow-ups for the duration of the study or until they choose to withdraw. Genetic and tissue samples will be processed and stored securely. The main outcome is the development and maintenance of a comprehensive translational resource for HRFD over five years. The study does not require clinic visits and involves minimal participant burden while contributing valuable data and materials for ongoing research.

Researchers are collecting information from patients with rare kidney diseases to support research and improve care. This National Registry of Rare Kidney Diseases RaDaR aims to develop clinical guidelines, audit treatments and outcomes, and help develop future therapies by gathering comprehensive data. Rare kidney diseases often have genetic causes and affect patients from childhood into adulthood, but their rarity makes research and treatment development challenging. The registry gathers clinical data and biological samples from various rare kidney disease groups, each focusing on conditions like Alport Syndrome, APRT Deficiency, Polycystic Kidney Disease, and many others. It connects patients and clinicians and allows patients to contribute information about their quality of life. This infrastructure enables identification of patient groups for clinical trials, biomarker development, and genotype-phenotype studies. Participants provide clinical and disease-specific information over time, which supports epidemiological and translational research. The registry facilitates patient recruitment for studies, improves patient and clinician education, and provides access to current knowledge about rare kidney diseases. The registry is ongoing and primarily includes UK patients but also accepts international participants consented through UK NHS hospitals.

Researchers are conducting a patient registry and natural history study called Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford CoRDS to support research on rare diseases. CoRDS is an international registry that connects patients with rare, undiagnosed, or uncommon diseases to researchers studying over 7,000 rare diseases. This program aims to help advance treatments and cures by facilitating easy collaboration between patients, advocacy groups, and researchers. It is based at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and is free for patients to join and for researchers to access. Participants provide contact, sociodemographic, and health information, which is entered into CoRDS and linked to a unique coded identifier. Examples of collected data include name, mailing address, phone number, email, date and place of birth, sex, gender, ethnicity, family history, and diagnosis-related information. De-identified information may be shared with approved researchers after review by an Institutional Review Board and expert panel. Some data may also be shared with other databases and patient advocacy groups, with protections to prevent misuse for research purposes. Participants are contacted yearly to confirm continued participation and to update their information. If a parent or legal guardian consents for a minor, the participant will be contacted at age 18 to provide their own consent. The primary goal is to accelerate research by connecting individuals interested in rare disease research with scientists over a long period of up to 100 years. There is no treatment given, as this is an observational registry study.

Nephronophthisis NPH is a genetic kidney disease caused by mutations in over 20 genes, including NPHP1 and NPHP4. It leads to reduced urine concentration, chronic kidney inflammation, and often progresses to end-stage kidney failure before age 20. NPH can occur alone or with other symptoms like retinal problems and skeletal abnormalities, all linked to ciliary dysfunction. Currently, there is no effective treatment available for this condition. Researchers are studying the proteins and signaling pathways affected by NPHP gene mutations to find new treatment targets. The study collects blood and urine samples from affected patients, healthy relatives, and control groups to analyze urine components through advanced methods like proteome and metabolomics profiling. This helps identify biomarkers and assess drug responses in kidney cells derived from patients. Participants provide samples for multiomics analyses, including protein and microRNA profiling from urine extracellular vesicles. Researchers will monitor these biomarkers to evaluate potential therapeutic targets in urine-derived kidney cells over three years. The main goal is to confirm new targets and support the development of treatments for NPH and related kidney ciliopathies.