INSIGHT Study Logo.

The INSIGHT study is developing insight into nephrotic syndrome: Investigating genes, health, and therapeutics.

INSIGHT is a paediatric, disease-based clinical cohort that is designed to investigate gene and environmental factors in children with nephrotic syndrome. Paediatric nephrotic syndrome is defined as >3 g/day of proteinuria and low serum albumin levels. Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is the most commonly acquired kidney disease in childhood and progressive (treatment resistant) forms result in complete scarring of the kidney, leading to end stage renal disease (ESRD).

Recruitment for INSIGHT is primarily based in the Greater Toronto Area, with the hopes of expanding the study to other regional, national, and international sites. Recruitment began at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in February 2011. Our target participation number is 2,000 children from the Greater Toronto Area, in addition to those participating from other sites.

Eligibility criteria: Diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome after 1996, between ages 1 to 18, either child or parent/guardian can sign informed consent and complete questionnaires.

Procedure: questionnaire, blood work and urine sample, toenail clipping (for those diagnosed after 2005)

Photo of Dr. Damien Noone

Dr. Damien Noone is a staff physician in the Division of Nephrology at The Hospital for Sick Children, Program Director for the SickKids Nephrology Training Program, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. His research is clinical and translational in nature, focusing on the pathogenesis of complement-mediated glomerular disease, renal vasculitis, and the role of vascular and endothelial cell dysfunction in renal diseases.

Dr. Chia Wei Teoh is a staff physician in the Division of Nephrology at The Hospital for Sick Children, Director for the SickKids Renal Transplant Program, Project Investigator in the SickKids Research Institute, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. Dr. Teoh’s clinical and research interests include all aspects of paediatric renal transplantation and complement-mediated disorders.

Photo of Dr. Christoph Licht

Dr. Christoph Licht is a dual-appointed staff physician in the Divisions of Nephrology at both The Hospital for Sick Children and Toronto General Hospital. He is a Senior Associate Scientist in the Cell Biology Program at the SickKids Research Institute, and Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. Dr. Licht’s research focuses on complement-mediated renal diseases, combining clinical, translational, and basic science methods to elucidate the causes of, and potential treatments for these rare diseases.

Photo of Dr. Valerie Langlois

Dr. Valerie Langlois is a staff physician and Clinical Director for the Division of Nephrology at The Hospital for Sick Children, Program Lead for the SickKids Renal Transplant Program, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Langlois’ research focuses on outcomes of renal transplantation and clinical management of hypertension in paediatric population.

Photo of Dr. Lisa Strug

Dr. Lisa Strug is a Senior Scientist in the Genetics and Genome Biology program at SickKids, the Associate Director of The Centre for Applied Genomics, and an Associate Professor of Biostatistics at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.

Dr. Strug’s research focuses on the development of novel statistical approaches to identify genetic contributors to human disease.

Dr. Seetha Radhakrishnan

Dr. Seetha Radhakrishnan is a staff physician in the Division of Nephrology at the Hospital for Sick Children and Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto.

Her research interest includes clinical outcomes in nephrotic syndrome specifically treatment response and progression of the disease.

Dr. Rachel Pearl

Dr. Rachel Pearl is a staff physician in the Division of Nephrology at the Hospital for Sick Children and Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. She also runs a Paediatrics clinic at Brampton Civic Hospital as well as a Nephrology clinic at Peel Memorial Hospital.

Her research interest includes medication response and long term outcomes in childhood nephrotic syndrome.

Dr. Leo Levin is a staff physician in the Division of Nephrology at The hospital for Sick Children, Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto, and runs a Paediatrics clinic in Markham, Ontario.

His research interest includes general paediatrics aspects of transplant care and chronic renal diseases.

Dr. Rachel Pearl – William Osler Health System – Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness

Dr. Hubert Wong – Rouge Valley Health System – Centenary Hospital

Dr. Rahul Chanchlani – Hamilton Health Sciences – McMaster Children’s Hospital

Impact of steroids and steroid-sparing agents on quality of life in children with nephrotic syndrome.

Pediatric Nephrology, 2020

Prediction of short- and long-term outcomes in childhood nephrotic syndrome.

KI Reports, 2020

Prevalence of asthma and allergies and risk of relapse in childhood nephrotic syndrome: Insight into nephrotic syndrome cohort.

Journal of Pediatrics, 2019

Association of low birth weight and prematurity with clinical outcomes of childhood nephrotic syndrome: a prospective cohort study.

Pediatric Nephrology, 2019

Parental health literacy and outcomes of childhood nephrotic syndrome.

Pediatrics, 2017

Parental attitudes to genetic testing differ by ethnicity and immigration in childhood nephrotic syndrome: a cross-sectional study.

CJKHD, 2016

Ethnic differences in incidence and outcomes of childhood nephrotic syndrome.

CJASN, 2016

The rationale and design of Insight into Nephrotic Syndrome: Investigating Genes, Health and Therapeutics (INSIGHT): a prospective cohort study of childhood nephrotic syndrome.

BMC Nephrology, 2013

Medications for Nephrotic Syndrome

Other Nephrotic Syndrome Infographics

For more information, or to enrol in this study, please fill out the following form. We will contact you with further details.

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