The Center for Healthcare Equity in Kidney Disease (CHEK-D) is focused on developing and supporting scientists and clinicians in basic, clinical, and translational research to reduce and eliminate disparities in health processes and outcomes related to kidney disease. We partner with dedicated faculty, staff and community leaders on projects to increase healthcare equity in underserved, diverse populations. We align our vision with UNM HSC’s mission for equity and quality improvement by expanding kidney disease clinical treatment options for vulnerable groups. We are also committed to strengthening the UNM HSC’s internal research infrastructure through campus-wide collaboration, professional development, and developing a pipeline of minority trainees through undergraduate, graduate, medical education, and early career faculty.

The Center is administered by the Executive Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences Center through the Office of Research and works side by side with the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology.

CHEK-D was established by a generous donation from Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI) to UNM HSC to create a disparities research center focused on kidney disease to “significantly and positively influence the impact the research, education, and outreach activities of those faculty pursuing reduction in healthcare and health outcome disparities in the realm of kidney transplants, polycystic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, and other kidney-related conditions.”