DEERFIELD, Ill., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Baxter Healthcare Corporation announced four global research projects as winners of its annual Renal Discoveries Extramural Grant Program (EGP). Each will receive $375,000 over three years to conduct research that can be translated into clinical applications to improve care for patients with kidney disease. Each grant includes funding for research fellowship training at the institutions conducting the research.
The winning proposals were selected from a competitive group of 41 submissions, from 21 countries, by an independent Medical Advisory Board (MAB) of eight prominent nephrologists. The grant winners come from each of four regions: Asia/Pacific, Latin America, North America and Europe/Middle East/Africa/Russia.
The four grant winners are: -- Dr. Amina Kahn, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. “Anorexia in chronic kidney disease patients -- a proposal to characterize its hormonal and metabolic profile.” -- Dr. Laura-Elena Reyna-Carmona, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico. “Effects of PD regimen low in glucose on insulin resistance, body composition, adipokine profile and sympathetic overactivity in peritoneal dialysis patients.” -- Dr. Man Fai Lam, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. “Is there a contributory role of peritoneal adipocytes to the chronic inflammation in peritoneal dialysis?” -- Dr. Cian Chan, University Hospital of North Staffordshire and Keele University, Stroke-on-Trent, UK. “Cardiac function and near patient analysis of fluid status in dialysis patients with differing fluid removal risk phenotypes.”
“We have selected four exceptionally talented researchers engaged in interesting, novel and feasible research that will bring important new knowledge to the field,” said MAB member Dr. Qais Al Awqati, M.D., Robert F. Loeb Professor of Medicine at Columbia University. “Moreover, we are very pleased that each principal investigator is a junior faculty member who is starting on a productive career and that the fellows working with them on these projects will be able to conduct their training in the richest of academic environments.”
Renal Discoveries continues Baxter’s support of the study of kidney disease by building on previous grants that distributed more than $29 million to 243 researchers from 22 countries since 1989. It provides needed resources to enable scientific researchers to pursue broad, long-term basic and applied studies. Such studies are critical to enhancing the collective knowledge base on kidney disease and treatment.
“Renal research funding is critical to advancing patient therapy,” said Sarah S. Prichard, M.D., vice president of global medical/clinical affairs and research for Baxter’s Renal business. “Programs like Renal Discoveries help fund the high quality science being done in nephrology. The grant program invited submissions on the topic of dialysis therapies, chronic kidney disease and its co-morbidities. I was struck by the fact that of the 41 submissions the MAB received for funding consideration, 18 were related to peritoneal dialysis. This indicates the increased interest in and high level of scientific investigation in the field on peritoneal dialysis.”
Globally, there are a growing number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who require renal replacement therapy. Renal replacement therapy, in the form of dialysis or transplantation, is offered to CKD patients in more than 120 countries. Worldwide, almost 1.8 million people are receiving renal replacement therapy with 1.4 million on some form of dialysis treatment.
ABOUT THE RENAL DISCOVERIES EXTRAMURAL GRANT PROGRAM
The Renal Discoveries Extramural Grant Program is designed to stimulate scientific advancement and general knowledge in nephrology, as well as provide foundation training to the next generation of clinical investigators. The grants support translational research in the areas of dialysis therapies, chronic kidney disease, and co-morbidities associated with chronic kidney disease, with the goal of improving the quality of life and reducing the morbidity and mortality of patients with kidney disease.
The EGP is endorsed by the International Society of Nephrology (ISN). “The ISN encourages researchers and research institutions involved in advancing the knowledge of kidney disease and its treatment to participate in this program,” said ISN President William G. Couser, M.D. “The ultimate goal is better outcomes for patients.”
ABOUT BAXTER RENAL THERAPIES
Baxter is a leader in the field of dialysis and is largely responsible for the development of both therapies used to treat chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). The company introduced the first commercial “artificial kidney” machine and disposable coil dialyzer in 1956, making HD available to the broader population. The company also helped pioneer modern PD through the introduction of PD solutions in flexible containers in the late 1970s and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in 1978.
Today, Baxter is the world’s leading manufacturer of products for PD, and distributes HD instruments and disposables to dialysis clinics.
ABOUT BAXTER
Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. . Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists healthcare professionals and their patients with treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. For more information about Baxter, please visit http://www.baxter.com . For more information on the Renal Discoveries Extramural Grant Program, please visit http://www.baxter.com/egp , write egp_baxter@baxter.com or call +1-847-473-6991.
Baxter Healthcare Corporation
CONTACT: Media, Jerreau Beaudoin, +1-847-948-3425, Investors, Mary KayLadone, +1-847-948-3371, or Clare Trachtman, +1-847-948-3085, all of Baxter
Web site: http://www.baxter.com/
