National Kidney Foundation Launches Initiative to Modernize eGFR Testing

The initiative brings together pharmacists, physicians, laboratory experts, and electronic health record vendors to address the complexities of updating clinical protocols. For nearly five decades, the Cockcroft-Gault equation served as the primary guide for medication dosing, but recent research confirms that the 2021 CKD-EPI equation, validated across more diverse populations, provides a more precise and equitable scientific foundation.

Co-chaired by Andrew Bzowyckyj and Wendy St. Peter, the program relies on a multidisciplinary workgroup to create practical implementation strategies for healthcare settings. The community offers participants access to shared best practices, educational resources, and a forum to troubleshoot the technical integration of these standards into existing digital records. With chronic kidney disease affecting one in seven U.S. adults—many of whom remain undiagnosed—the foundation emphasizes that this transition is a critical step in aligning patient care with current evidence. Major pharmacy organizations, including the AACP and ASHP, are supporting the effort, which is funded by a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation.