Welcome to the website of Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund (NIKRF).

Thank you for visiting the new website of the Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund, a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital.  We hope that you find it interesting and informative. We apologise that a number of areas which are in the process of updating are blank, these will be available shortly.  The Fund is a totally voluntary organisation with no paid officials or staff.

Origins of NIKRF

In 1970 a young Waringstown woman, the late Mrs Josephine Kerr, became critically ill with acute kidney failure following the loss at childbirth of a much longed-for baby.  For several weeks she was near to death and dependent on artificial kidney treatment under the care of the late Professor Mary McGeown in the Belfast City Hospital.  She survived and subsequently regained complete health.

Following her miraculous recovery, Mrs Kerr was inspired to write an article in the Belfast Telegraph describing her life threating illness, the treatment which led to her recovery and asking those who had benefitted from similar treatment to join her to raise money for research into kidney disease. Together with her husband Walter, family, friends and others who replied to her letter in the Belfast Telegraph, Josie formed a steering group and in 1971  the Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund (NIKRF) was launched.