Clinical and cost-effectiveness of oral sodium bicarbonate therapy for older patients with chronic kidney disease and low-grade acidosis (BiCARB): a pragmatic, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

We acknowledge the support received via the NHS Scotland Support for Science scheme; the NIHR Renal and Ageing Comprehensive Research Networks; and the work of all of the research nurses, local investigators and study teams at sites; Tayside Clinical Trials Unit staff; and most importantly all those with kidney disease who participated in the trial. Professor Witham acknowledges support from the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre. In addition, we acknowledge the support and advice we received from the independent Trial Steering Committee members (Professor David Stott, Professor Patrick Mark, Professor Tahir Masud and Mr. Alex Stephen) and the independent Data Monitoring Committee (Professor Alex McConnachie, Professor David Wheeler, Dr. Nicosha de Souza, Professor Andrew Clegg). We also acknowledge the efforts of all the investigators, site research nurses and support teams. Funding The BiCARB trial was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme (project reference 10/71/01). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. The funder of the study had input into the study design via the original commissioning call specification. The funder had no other role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report. The corresponding author had full access to all the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit. Disclaimer: The Health Services Research Unit and Health Economics Research Unit are core funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate.