For many people living with chronic kidney disease, the underlying reasons for their condition remain unknown. Dr. Mark Elliott is a researcher with the University of British Columbia who is working towards unravelling these mysteries for people whose kidney disease may be genetic, with the ultimate goal of finding new, potentially curative treatments.
Elliott says he was first drawn to nephrology when he saw the long-term, meaningful relationships that kidney doctors form with patients and their families. He completed nephrology training at the University of Calgary in Alberta and then a three-year fellowship in precision medicine and genetics in nephrology at Columbia University in New York. Throughout his time in New York, his thoughts were back with patients in his home country.
“My goal was always to gain a skill set, bring it back to Canada, and expand the opportunities for our patients here,” he explains, noting there is a limited number of researchers specializing in genetic kidney disease in Western Canada.
Shortly after returning to Canada in 2023, he began working as the lead for a kidney genetics clinic operated by Providence Health Care. Based at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, the clinic accepts referrals for patients living across BC and Yukon, offering virtual visits as required. Recently, his team applied for funding to launch a new research program to identify the genetic underpinnings of various kidney diseases affecting patients in the province.
Elliott notes while some treatments exist for people living with kidney disease, these focus on minimizing symptoms and slowing disease progression. But identifying the genetic causes of kidney disease could lead to better – possibly even curative – treatments.
Of note, some targeted therapies that address the genetic or molecular causes of kidney disease are emerging. “We are starting to see that these therapies being developed are making a really big difference in patients’ lives, but they are only available for a small subset of individuals,” Elliott explains.
The new research project his clinic is spearheading, which is in the midst of being approved and expected to launch in 2025, could expand upon this pool of targeted therapies to help more individuals.
The project is being met with much enthusiasm from patients and their families who are searching for answers, Elliott notes. “The people I’ve spoken to so far have been very keen and excited to be involved in this research moving forward, and I think that’s really a unique aspect of our patient population here in British Columbia, where people are really engaged in their care,” he says. “I commend them for helping to make things better for everyone who could benefit.”
