RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Hamburg Acute Renal Injury Study (HARIS)

The HARIS study in Hamburg is observing adults admitted to hospital with sudden kidney damage. Researchers are also looking at a control group of hospital patients whose kidneys are working normally. The main goal is to understand what causes this kidney damage, how it progresses, and its long-term effects. This involves checking kidney health, health conditions, and treatments, as well as collecting blood and urine samples over time. This research will help identify what makes someone more likely to get kidney damage, find better ways to predict future problems, and develop more precise care for patients after kidney injury. All patients receive standard care throughout the study.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Enrolment target

1,000

Start

16 Sep 2025

Estimated completion

01 Sep 2030

Acute Kidney Injury Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

What is this study about?

The HARIS study, which stands for the Hamburg Acute Renal Injury Study, is a research project based in Germany. It focuses on sudden kidney injury (sometimes called AKI), which means your kidneys suddenly stop working as well as they should. This can happen when you're unwell, especially in hospital.

The researchers want to understand everything about how sudden kidney injury develops and what happens to people afterwards. They are looking at what might cause it, how it changes over time, and what effects it has on someone's health in the long run. To do this, they are closely watching adult patients admitted to hospital who develop this kidney problem. They also compare them to similar patients in hospital who don't develop kidney injury.

The main aim is to find better ways to spot who is at risk of kidney damage, understand how the body tries to fix itself, and find new ways to treat patients more effectively after they've had kidney injury. This could lead to better care and help prevent long-term problems like ongoing kidney disease or heart issues in the future.

Key takeaways

This study helps understand sudden kidney injury.
It involves adults in hospital, with and without kidney injury.
No new treatments are given, only observations and samples are collected.
Your standard medical care will not change.
The research aims to improve future care for kidney injury patients.
Long-term follow-up helps track health over time.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be an adult aged 18 or over. You would either be in hospital because you have sudden kidney injury, or you're in hospital because you're acutely unwell but your kidneys are working fine (this would be for the comparison group).

The most important thing is that you fully understand the study and agree to take part by signing a consent form yourself. There are no other specific reasons that would stop you from joining, which means if you meet the above, you might be able to participate.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you currently in hospital?
Have you recently had sudden kidney injury, or are your kidneys working normally?
Would you be able to read and sign a consent form yourself?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you take part in the HARIS study, you will continue to receive your usual medical care in hospital – the study doesn't involve any new or experimental treatments. The research team will collect information about your kidney function, other health conditions you have, any medicines you're taking, and treatments you receive.

You will also be asked to provide blood and urine samples. These will be collected when you first join the study, at different times while you are in hospital, and then again three months after you leave hospital. After that, the research team will check in with you once a year to see how you are doing, including reviewing any hospital visits, heart problems, or if your kidney health has changed. This ongoing follow-up ensures they understand the long-term effects.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study won't change the medical care you receive, as all treatments will be standard for your condition. There are no direct medical benefits to you personally, but your contribution will be very valuable in improving our understanding of kidney injury for future patients. The main risks are minor discomfort from extra blood draws, similar to standard hospital tests. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect your medical care.

Locations (1)

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Verified postcode
Hamburg, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'acute kidney injury'?

It means your kidneys suddenly stop working as well as they should, often because you are very unwell or in hospital.

Will I get different treatment if I join this study?

No, you will receive the exact same medical care as any other patient. The study just gathers information and samples.

How long will I be involved in the study?

Information and samples are collected during your hospital stay and three months after discharge. Long-term health information will be collected yearly after that.

Will my information be kept private?

Yes, all your personal and medical information will be kept strictly confidential and anonymous for research purposes.

Do I have to provide blood and urine samples?

Yes, providing regular blood and urine samples is an important part of understanding kidney injury for this study.

How to find out more

Christian Schmidt-Lauber, MD

c.schmidt-lauber@uke.de +49 (0) 40 7410 53908 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.