# Outcomes of Vascular Dialysis Access in the Elderly

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2020 · $171,720

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This application proposes a career development and research plan aimed to develop me, Karen
Woo, MD, MS into an independent clinician/scientist specializing in vascular surgery outcomes
research and comparative effectiveness research. I am a board-certified vascular surgeon with
a clinical and research interest in dialysis vascular access. I have prior clinical research
experience in the subject of dialysis fistula maturation, patency and management of
complications. I have created a unique collaboration with the Schaeffer Center for Health Policy
and Economics at the University of Southern California which has extensive experience with
outcomes research and comparative effectiveness research and is especially well suited to
serve as a training site.
The career development plan will consist of advanced coursework in biostatistics, clinical trial
design, multidisciplinary conferences and project-based learning. The proposal will be
conducted under the direction of the mentorship committee. The primary mentor will be Dana
Goldman, PhD, who holds the Leonard D. Schaeffer Director's Chair at the Schaeffer Center
and is also Professor of Public Policy, Pharmacy and Economics in the Sol Price School of
Public Policy and the School of Pharmacy. The advisory committee is comprised of Michael
Allon, MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama, Robert J. Hye, MD, Chief of
Vascular Surgery at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, San Diego, Clifford Y. Ko, MD, Professor of
Surgery at UCLA and Peter F. Lawrence, MD, Professor of Surgery at UCLA.
In the United States, the Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative, the National Kidney Foundation
Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative Guidelines and the Center for Medicare Services End Stage
Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program all encourage the creation of fistulas over grafts for
hemodialysis vascular access. However, the elderly are the fastest growing segment of the end
stage renal disease population and recently, evidence has emerged suggesting that fistulas
may not provide the same benefits over grafts in the elderly population as in the younger
population. The research described in this proposal utilizes outcomes research techniques to
evaluate short term outcomes of fistulas vs grafts for dialysis vascular access in the elderly
compared to non-elderly and determine factors which may aid in patient selection to optimize
outcomes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9947949
- **Project number:** 5K08DK107934-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen Woo
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $171,720
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-29 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9947949

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9947949, Outcomes of Vascular Dialysis Access in the Elderly (5K08DK107934-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9947949. Licensed CC0.

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