# iKNOW IT: Increasing Knowledge in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Patients through Information Technology

> **NIH NIH K23** · SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · 2022 · $188,382

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This proposal describes a five-year research training program that will allow Dr. Pollack to achieve his long-
term goal of becoming a world renowned and independent physician-scientist dedicated to the development
and creation of well-designed health information technology (HIT) that improves the outcomes for children
living with a kidney disease. Dr. Pollack’s project goal is to address the unmet information needs that result in
decreased self-management practices and non-adherence in young kidney transplant patients and their
caregivers. He will achieve this goal by examining the content and design requirements of a new HIT tool to
support patients and their caregivers. Using a participatory design approach that engages stakeholders in an
iterative process, his work will result in the creation of a new prototype information tool, iKNOW IT, that
supports young kidney transplant patients and caregivers. This proposal builds upon his clinical training in
pediatric nephrology, experience in clinical information systems, and his previous research in describing the
clinical decision making process of physicians. Dr. Pollack’s research will be supported by an outstanding
group of mentors with expertise in health informatics, transplant medicine, user-centered design, and clinical
trial management. His mentors are dedicated to ensuring the success of this project and his career
development as an independent clinical investigator.
The first aim of this proposal involves an observational study to identify the information needs of young kidney
transplant patients and their caregivers. These items will first be identified and explored through individual
interviews and focus groups and then validated in a larger population via the development and administration
of a survey. His second aim will consist of an iterative process of design workshops and prototyping, where
patients, caregivers, and clinicians will actively contribute to the development of the iKNOW IT prototype that
encourages self-management, supports decision making, and reduces uncertainty. Different methods of
presenting clinical and experiential information will be evaluated to identify the best design practices that
support decision making in patients and caregivers. The third aim will pilot the iKNOW IT prototype through a
functional technology probe in a group of young kidney transplant patients and their caregivers. The collective
results of this study will inform the development of a multicenter, randomized control trial using HIT to support
self-management and reduce non-adherence in kidney transplant patients.
By accomplishing the aims in this proposal, Dr. Pollack will address critical gaps in our understanding of how to
leverage health information technology to meet the information needs of young kidney transplant patients and
their families. Ultimately, this proposal will allow Dr. Pollack to build a larger research program to investigate
the features and ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10440245
- **Project number:** 5K23DK117017-05
- **Recipient organization:** SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Ari Pollack
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $188,382
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-06-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10440245

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10440245, iKNOW IT: Increasing Knowledge in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Patients through Information Technology (5K23DK117017-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10440245. Licensed CC0.

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