Serving Central Alabama

Research close to home.
Care you can trust.

The Central Alabama Kidney Research Group brings cutting-edge clinical trials to patients in East Central Alabama — because access to research shouldn't require a trip to a major city.

3
Nephrology practices working together across Central Alabama
1M+
Americans estimated to have APOL1-related kidney disease
1
Active Phase 2 clinical trial now enrolling in our community
100%
Patient-first — our physicians serve the communities they live in
Why we exist

Research shouldn't be a privilege

Patients in large cities have long had access to clinical trials. Patients in communities like ours — rural, underserved, often predominantly African American — have been left out. We're changing that.

Local access

We bring research to community nephrology practices where you already receive your care — no long drives, no unfamiliar settings, no lost time from work.

Community representation

African American patients bear a disproportionate burden of kidney disease, yet are often underrepresented in research. We're committed to changing that — starting here in Central Alabama.

Ethical, accountable care

Research done by doctors you know and trust, under rigorous standards, with fair compensation for your time and a commitment to your safety above all else.

Now enrolling

Our current study

Phase 2 — Actively Recruiting

HORIZON Study — MZE829 for APOL1 Kidney Disease

A sponsored trial studying a novel oral medication targeting the genetic cause of kidney disease in people of African ancestry. If you carry the APOL1 G1 or G2 gene variant and have kidney disease with protein in your urine, you may be eligible.

Our commitment

Born from a conversation. Driven by purpose.

CAKRG was founded by three nephrology practices who recognized a simple truth: our patients deserve the same research opportunities as anyone else.

Our mission

Research rooted in community.

How we came together

The founding story

In 2023, at the American Society of Nephrology meeting in Philadelphia, Dr. Dyer Diskin and Dr. Hari Garapati sat down together and started talking. Both had trained in academic settings with access to cutting-edge clinical research. Both had since returned to practice in communities that had almost none of it.

The conversation led to a question: why couldn't patients in East Central Alabama have the same opportunities? The diseases are here. The patients are here. The physicians are here. What was missing was the infrastructure — and the will to build it.

That conversation became the Central Alabama Kidney Research Group. Three independent nephrology practices — HNDT, Montgomery Kidney Specialists, and Renal Associates of Montgomery — came together around a shared mission: bring ethical, rigorous, accessible research to the patients who need it most, in the communities where they live.

"The diseases that our patients carry should be studied so that progress can be made treating them — right here, not somewhere far away."

— Dr. Dyer Diskin, Chair, CAKRG
A legacy of innovation

Built on decades of kidney care in the Southeast

HNDT was founded by Dr. Charles J. Diskin, M.D., with a commitment to bringing innovative kidney care to East Alabama at a time when such care was not easily accessible in the region. That spirit — expanding access, leading at the frontier of nephrology — is part of CAKRG's DNA.

Our approach

Quality, ethics, and community trust

We understand the history of research in communities like ours. Our approach is built on transparency, fair compensation for participants, physician oversight by doctors you already know, and an unwavering commitment to your safety.

What guides us

Our values

Access

Clinical research should not require traveling to a big city. We meet patients where they are.

Equity

Communities that bear a greater burden of disease deserve proportionate representation in the research that could cure it.

Accountability

Every study we conduct follows rigorous regulatory and ethical standards, with independent oversight.

Transparency

We explain what we are doing, why, and what it means for you — in plain language.

Trust

Our physicians serve the same communities they live in. That relationship is the foundation of everything.

Progress

We are committed to advancing kidney medicine — not just for our patients today, but for all who follow.

Clinical research

Our current studies

Now Enrolling — Phase 2

HORIZON: A Phase 2 Study of MZE829 in Adults with APOL1 Kidney Disease

About the study

MZE829 is an oral medication — taken by mouth as a pill — that works by blocking the action of the APOL1 protein. Certain variants of the APOL1 gene (called G1 and G2) are carried almost exclusively by people of West African ancestry and are strongly associated with serious progressive kidney disease, including focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and hypertensive nephrosclerosis.

Current treatments for APOL1-related kidney disease focus on slowing progression — they do not address the underlying genetic cause. MZE829 is designed to do exactly that, targeting the mechanism by which the APOL1 protein harms kidney cells.

The HORIZON trial is an open-label, Phase 2 basket study enrolling 56 participants across multiple sites. The study measures the effect of MZE829 on albumin in the urine (uACR) — a key marker of kidney damage — as well as safety and tolerability.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Who may be eligible?

You may qualify if you:

  • Are between 18 and 65 years old
  • Carry two high-risk APOL1 alleles (G1/G1, G2/G2, or G1/G2)
  • Have chronic kidney disease with protein in your urine
  • Any gender

You may not qualify if you:

  • Have had an organ or bone marrow transplant
  • Have a history of most cancers in the past 2 years
  • Have Type 1 diabetes
  • Are pregnant or currently nursing

Additional criteria apply. Contact our study coordinator to discuss your full history.

Your decision

Why participate in research?

This is always your choice. Here is what we want you to know.

You may benefit directly

Participants often receive close monitoring, additional testing, and access to treatments not yet widely available. Our team watches your health carefully throughout.

You help your community

African American patients are vastly underrepresented in kidney disease research — even though APOL1-related disease disproportionately affects this community. Your participation helps change that, for generations to come.

Fair compensation

We believe your time has value. Study participants receive fair and equitable compensation. Our coordinator will explain all details before you make any decision.

Local and convenient

Study visits happen at the practices where you already receive your kidney care. No traveling out of the area, no unfamiliar faces, no disruption to your routine.

Your safety comes first

Every study we conduct is reviewed by an independent ethics board (IRB). You may withdraw from any study at any point without consequence to your ongoing care.

Advancing science that matters here

APOL1-related kidney disease is concentrated in communities like ours. Progress in treating it requires data from patients like ours. We are making that happen right here in Central Alabama.

"We wanted to utilize relationships with industry to bring more opportunities to our patients — to make sure the diseases they have are studied so that progress can be made."

— Dr. Dyer Diskin, Chair, CAKRG
Patient resources

Your questions, answered.

We want you to feel fully informed before making any decision about research participation.

What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests whether a medical treatment — a medication, device, or approach — is safe and effective in people. Before any treatment reaches patients, it must go through carefully monitored trials. Participating gives you access to treatments not yet widely available and contributes to medical progress.
Do I have to participate? Will my care change if I say no?
Absolutely not. Participation is always completely voluntary. Saying no will have zero effect on your medical care. Your doctors at HNDT, Montgomery Kidney Specialists, or Renal Associates of Montgomery will continue to provide the same quality of care regardless of your decision.
What is the APOL1 gene, and why does it matter?
APOL1 is a gene most commonly found in people of West African ancestry. Certain variants — called G1 and G2 — are associated with a significantly increased risk of serious kidney disease, including FSGS and faster CKD progression. Most current treatments do not address this genetic driver — which is exactly why research like HORIZON matters.
How do I know if I carry the APOL1 gene variant?
Genetic testing can determine whether you carry the G1 or G2 APOL1 variants. Our study coordinator can discuss how this testing is done as part of the screening process — it does not require separate genetic testing beforehand.
What does it mean that this is a Phase 2 trial?
Drug development happens in phases. Phase 1 tests safety in healthy volunteers. Phase 2 — where MZE829 is now — tests safety and begins to evaluate whether the drug works in patients with the disease. Phase 3 involves larger trials before potential FDA approval. MZE829 completed a successful Phase 1 trial before entering HORIZON.
Is my personal and health information protected?
Yes. All research conducted by CAKRG complies with HIPAA and federal regulations. Your identity is protected in all research records and publications. Our coordinator will review all privacy protections with you in detail before the study begins.
Can I leave the study once I start?
Yes, at any time, for any reason, without penalty or consequence to your ongoing medical care. This is a fundamental right of all research participants, protected by federal law.
Who do I contact with questions?
Our study coordinator is your first point of contact. You can reach the research team at studycoordinator@alabamakidneyresearch.org. No question is too small.
The people behind CAKRG

Our team and practices

Leadership

Research leadership

Dr. Dyer Diskin
Dr. Dyer Diskin, M.D.
Chair, CAKRG · HNDT, Opelika AL
Dr. Diskin is a nephrologist and founding chair of CAKRG. A partner at HNDT in Opelika, Alabama, he specializes in general nephrology, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and transplantation. He serves as medical director of multiple dialysis units across East Central Alabama and as a regional medical director for Fresenius Kidney Care. CAKRG grew out of his belief that patients in this region deserve access to the same quality of research available at larger academic centers.
HNDT website coming soon
Dr. Hari Garapati
Dr. Hari Garapati, M.D.
Principal Investigator · Montgomery Kidney Specialists
Dr. Garapati is the Principal Investigator for CAKRG's inaugural clinical trial, the HORIZON study of MZE829 in APOL1 kidney disease. A nephrologist at Montgomery Kidney Specialists, he brings deep expertise in kidney disease and a strong commitment to patient-centered research. His conversation with Dr. Diskin at ASN 2023 in Philadelphia was the founding moment for CAKRG.
Montgomery Kidney Specialists
Dr. Rodney Smith
Dr. Rodney Smith, M.D.
Partner Practice Lead · Renal Associates of Montgomery
Dr. Smith represents Renal Associates of Montgomery in the CAKRG partnership. Renal Associates has long served the Montgomery community with comprehensive kidney care. The practice's participation in CAKRG extends that commitment to include research opportunities for patients across the Montgomery region.
Renal Associates of Montgomery
Study staff

Research coordinator

AH
Anirudh Harishankar
Study Coordinator
Anirudh holds a B.S. in Neuroscience and an accelerated M.S. in Multidisciplinary Biomedical Sciences from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has hands-on research experience in an NIH-funded R01 grant lab and clinical research support in rheumatology. He is the primary contact for all study inquiries.
studycoordinator@alabamakidneyresearch.org

Have a question about participating?

Anirudh is your first point of contact for everything related to the HORIZON study — eligibility questions, what to expect, scheduling, and general inquiries. Reach out anytime.

Partner practices

Our three practices

Opelika & Alexander City, AL

HNDT

Hypertension, Nephrology, Dialysis & Transplantation

Serving East Central Alabama with comprehensive kidney care since the practice's founding by Dr. Charles J. Diskin. Offices in Opelika and Alexander City.

Website coming soon
Montgomery, AL

Montgomery Kidney Specialists

Providing nephrology care in the Montgomery area with a focus on precision, evidence-based management of kidney disease.

montgomerykidneyspecialists.com
Montgomery, AL

Renal Associates of Montgomery

A cornerstone of kidney care in the Montgomery community, delivering comprehensive nephrology services with long-standing community ties.

renalmgmal.com
Updates

News & announcements

Milestone
March 2026

Maze Therapeutics announces positive Phase 2 data for MZE829

Maze Therapeutics reported topline results from the HORIZON trial, showing a 35.6% mean reduction in proteinuria at 12 weeks in APOL1 kidney disease patients — with a 61.8% reduction in the FSGS subgroup. Maze plans to advance to a pivotal program. CAKRG was proud to contribute to this landmark result.

Enrollment
Spring 2025

CAKRG begins enrolling patients in HORIZON study

The Central Alabama Kidney Research Group began enrolling participants for the Phase 2 HORIZON trial. This marks CAKRG's first active clinical trial, bringing a novel precision medicine study to patients in East Central Alabama.

Founding
2023–2024

CAKRG is established — three practices, one mission

Following a conversation at ASN 2023 in Philadelphia, Dr. Dyer Diskin and Dr. Hari Garapati founded the Central Alabama Kidney Research Group in partnership with Renal Associates of Montgomery, united by the belief that patients in Central Alabama deserve equal access to clinical research.

Get in touch

Contact the research team

Whether you have a question about participating, want to refer a patient, or just want to learn more — we want to hear from you.

Study coordinator

AH
Anirudh Harishankar
Study Coordinator, CAKRG
Location
Auburn / Opelika, Alabama

Partner practices

HNDT
Opelika & Alexander City, AL — Hypertension, Nephrology, Dialysis & Transplantation
Montgomery Kidney Specialists
Montgomery, AL
montgomerykidneyspecialists.com
Renal Associates of Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
renalmgmal.com

Are you a physician or researcher interested in partnering?

CAKRG is built on the principle that more practices serving underrepresented communities can come together to expand research access across the region. If you are a nephrology practice interested in learning more about joining or collaborating, please reach out at studycoordinator@alabamakidneyresearch.org.