Professor James Burton

I am both an Honorary Consultant Nephrologist and Professor of Renal Medicine and Associate Dean for Clinical Research at the University of Leicester. My principal research interests are the mechanisms underlying uraemic cardiovascular disease modification of cardiovascular risk in patients with end-stage renal disease and the identification and application of novel biomarkers.

In addition I am involved in the development and running of clinical trials; I'm the Chief Investigator for the NIHR funded NightLife trial investigating the impact of nocturnal dialysis on patient outcomes as well as the Kidney Research UK funded CONFIRM study exploring the utility of a novel cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques in haemodialysis patients. I am the independent Chair of two multi-centre NIHR Trial Steering Committees and sit on a number of others.

I currently Chair of the UK Kidney Association Clinical Guidelines Committee and has himself chaired a number of UK guideline updates making sure that research translates into clinical practice.

I have received funding from a number of charitable and industry partners:

The National Institute of Health Research:

A Clinician Scientist Award to investigate the effects of exercise on cardiovascular health in people with kidney failure on dialysis (£1.1m)

A Health Technology Assessment (HTA) grant to understand the impact of overnight dialysis on people's quality of life (£2.13m)

A Research for Patient Benefit Award (RfPB) to evaluate the cost effectiveness of exercise interventions in dialysis patients (£78k)

Doctoral Fellowship Award (as supervisor) to understand frailty falls and the role of exercise in dialysis patients (£200k)

The British Heart Foundation:

University of Leicester Infrastructure grant to develop imaging techniques in people with kidney disease (£1m)

A cardiac MRI study (Project Grant) to understand the impact of extended dialysis on cardiac structure and function (with Dr Matthew Graham-Brown £146k)

Kidney Research UK including:

The use of cardiac MRI to quantify cardiac fibrosis in people with advanced kidney disease (£48k))

Yakult Honsha: Investigate the impact of probiotic supplementation on the health of the microbiome (£388k) 

Vilar E, Kaja Kamal RM, Fotheringham J, Busby A, Berdeprado J, Kislowska E, Wellsted D, Alchi B, Burton JO, Davenport A, Farrington K. A multicenter feasibility randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of incremental versus conventional initiation of hemodialysis on residual kidney function. Kidney Int. 2021. Epub ahead of print.

March DS, Hurt AW, Grantham CE, Churchward DR, Young HML, Highton PJ, Dungey M, Bishop NC, Smith AC, Graham-Brown MPM, Cooper NJ, Burton JO. A Cost-Effective Analysis of the CYCLE-HD Randomized Controlled Trial. Kidney Int Rep. 2021 Apr 8;6(6):1548-1557.

Graham-Brown MPM, March DS, Young R, Highton PJ, Young HML, Churchward DR, Dungey M, Stensel DJ, Bishop NC, Brunskill NJ, Smith AC, McCann GP, McConnachie A, Burton JO. A randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of intra-dialytic cycling on left ventricular mass. Kidney Int. 2021 Jun;99(6):1478-1486.

March DS, Lai KB, Neal T, Graham-Brown MPM, Highton PJ, Churchward DR, Young HML, Dungey M, Stensel DJ, Smith AC, Bishop NC, Szeto CC, Burton JO. Circulating endotoxin and inflammation: associations with fitness, physical activity and the effect of a six-month programme of cycling exercise during haemodialysis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2021 ePub ahead of print.

Karunanithy N, Robinson EJ, Ahmad F, Burton JO, Calder F, Coles S, Das N, Dorling A, Forman C, Jaffer O, Lawman S, Lakshminarayan R, Lewlellyn R, Peacock JL, Ramnarine R, Mesa IR, Shaikh S, Simpson J, Steiner K, Suckling R, Szabo L, Turner D, Wadoodi A, Wang Y, Weir G, Wilkins CJ, Gardner LM, Robson MG. A multicenter randomized controlled trial indicates that paclitaxel-coated balloons provide no benefit for arteriovenous fistulas. Kidney Int. 2021;100:447-456.

March DS, Jones AW, Bishop NC, Burton JO. The Efficacy of Prebiotic, Probiotic, and Synbiotic Supplementation in Modulating Gut-Derived Circulatory Particles Associated With Cardiovascular Disease in Individuals Receiving Dialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Ren Nutr. 2020;30:347-359.

Young HML, March DS, Graham-Brown MPM, Jones AW, Curtis F, Grantham CS, Churchward DR, Highton P, Smith AC, Singh SJ, Bridle C, Burton JO. Effects of intradialytic cycling exercise on exercise capacity, quality of life, physical function and cardiovascular measures in adult haemodialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2018;33:1436-1445.

Graham-Brown MP, March DS, Churchward DR, Stensel DJ, Singh A, Arnold R, Burton JO, McCann GP. Novel cardiac nuclear magnetic resonance method for noninvasive assessment of myocardial fibrosis in hemodialysis patients. Kidney Int. 2016;90:835-44.

Burton JO, Jefferies HJ, Selby NM, McIntyre CW. Hemodialysis-induced repetitive myocardial injury results in global and segmental reduction in systolic cardiac function. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009;4:1925-31.

Burton JO, Jefferies HJ, Selby NM, McIntyre CW. Hemodialysis-induced repetitive myocardial injury results in global and segmental reduction in systolic cardiac function. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009;4:1925-31.

Clinical Trials in Cardiovascular / Renal Disease

Lifestyle and nutrition in people with advanced kidney disease

Symptom burden management and quality of life in people with kidney disease

Research into cardiovascular disease quality of life and symptom burden in people on dialysis

Mechanisms behind the development of cardiovascular risk and uraemic cardiovascular disease.

Chronic kidney disease associated mineral bone disease and sarcopaenia.

I teach on the following courses:

Teaching and assessment of undergraduate medical students.

Supervision of intercalating medical research students and small group teaching and assessment in the Science Society and Responsible Research.

Contribute to modules of Masters in Chronic Disease and Inflammation Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease.

Undergraduate student projects in Biological Sciences. 

Clinical Trials in Cardiovascular / Renal Disease

Lifestyle and nutrition in people with advanced kidney disease

Symptom burden management and quality of life in people with kidney disease

Research into cardiovascular disease quality of life and symptom burden in people on dialysis

Mechanisms behind the development of cardiovascular risk and uraemic cardiovascular disease.

Chronic kidney disease associated mineral bone disease and sarcopaenia.

Chair of the UK Kidney Association Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee

Member of the NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme Funding Committee

Member of the Kidney Research UK Research Grants Committee

Member of the UK Renal Trials Network (UKRTN)

Associate Editor (Haemodialysis Section) Blood Purification Karger Publications