Recruitment of new families for the genome-wide linkage analyses is closed as of 2005. In the four years of the recruitment phase for both the family and case-control studies the FIND study screened more than 9500 participants. In order to determine enrollment eligibility, Medical Record Review, Self Reported Medical Questionnaire and biochemical results were reviewed. More than 8600 provided biological samples (blood and urine) for biochemical assay and genetic analysis. B-cells, serum, plasma and urine have been preserved in an archive for future studies.

Approximately 1880 Affected Sibling Pairs (ASPs), 910 Discordant Relative Pairs (DSPs) and 360 Affected Relative Pairs (ARPs) will be genotyped for the family study. The MA MALD study has currently enrolled 840 cases (goal of 600) and 480 controls (goal of 600). Recruitment is still open for the MA MALD study. The AA MALD study which enrolls subjects with both diabetic and non-diabetic end-stage renal disease, has currently enrolled 501 non-diabetic cases with their spousal control (goal of 400), 291 diabetic cases with their spousal control (goal of 430) and 77 unrelated controls (goal of 465). Recruitment is still open for the AA MALD study.

The FIND investigators and staff wish to thank the study population and their families who have participated in the recruitment portion of the study. Identification of genes that influence susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy and/or kidney failure will lead to a better understanding of how serious kidney disease develops. This should eventually lead to improved treatment and prevention.