Call for applications: NephCure Foundation 2012 Scientific Research Grant Program

The NephCure Foundation is pleased to announce that it’s now accepting applications for its 2012 Scientific Research Grant Program.

The NephCure Foundation supports research seeking the cause of two potentially devastating idiopathic kidney diseases, Nephrotic Syndrome and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), improved treatment and a cure. To do this, NephCure’s aim is to deploy an aggressive research agenda that utilizes the best and brightest minds in nephrology research. NephCure will be now accepting applications for its 2012 funding cycle between now and its application deadline of Wednesday, November 30, at 5:00 EST. While grant applicants are encouraged to submit applications in the following area of study as it pertains to glomerular disease, other areas and novel ideas are welcome:

• Glomerular podocyte structure, function, and mechanism of action
• Genetics
• Recurrent FSGS
• Biomarkers
• Treatment-specific
• Registry expansion

For guideline specifics, please go to: http://www.nephcure.org/ncf-grant-programs.

Call for applications: Co-Editor of Pediatric Nephrology

IPNA Announces a Call for applications: Co-Editor of Pediatric Nephrology
The Official Journal of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association.

Please see this PDF for official Co-Editor position advertisement.

Applicants should be a member of IPNA, have a sustained record of achievement as an investigator, be able to work in close collaboration with the other co-editor from North America, and be able to devote at least 10 hours a week to the Journal.

Interested individuals should send a letter of interest including a vision statement and curriculum vitae by May 15, 2010 to:

Norman Rosenblum, M.D.
The Hospital for Sick Children
Division of Nephrology
555 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X9, Canada
norman.rosenblum@sickkids.ca

World Kidney Day

March 11 is World Kidney Day. The focus for 2010 is on Diabetes, a common cause of kidney failure. This is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of our kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. The first World Kidney day, now celebrated every year on the second Thursday of March in more than 100 countries on 6 continents, was in 2006.

Haiti Task Force News, Third Report

A third conference call was held today. There has not been a large influx of pediatric patients either due to their vulnerability in these extreme conditions or to poor communication. On-site clinic communication in Haiti continues to be low. Needed supplies were discussed and are arranged to be sent.

For more information, please see this page.

If you wish to donate, please see this page.

Haiti Task Force News, Second Report

Today we had a conference call with the ALANEPE president Dr. Orta Sibu, Dr. Zilleruelo from University of Miami, Dr. Lisa Satlin, president of ASPN from Mt. Sinai, myself and Dr. Tim Bunchman about what the efforts need to do. The two other nephrologists, Dr. Emilio Mena Castro from Santo Domingo and Dr. Melvin Bonilla Felix from Puerto Rico, were not on the call unfortunately. What was discussed was the fact that everyone is ready to accept patients or to provide supplies and personel. What is missing is any data indicating the need. We were hoping that Emilo would tell us what was happening in terms of pediatric nephrology patients in Santo Domingo. Another call is planned tomorrow. Tim was contacted by pediatric nephrologists from Israel and St. Petersburg Russia who want to help.

–Dr. Frederick Kaskel

Haiti Task Force News, First Report

In response to the Haitian earthquake disaster, IPNA and its Regional Societies have been involved in mobilizing efforts for immediate assistance. Dr. Salusky contacted leadership in the ASPN and ALANAPE last week to facilitate communications amongst the various concerned representatives. Exchanges between Drs. Nelson Orta Sibu, Melvin Bonilla Felix, and Emilio Mena Castro in Santo Domingo, as well as with Gaston Zilleruelo, Jose Strauss, Michael Freundlich and Carolyn Abibtbol, are updated regularly. Tim Bunchman, the ASPN representative on the American Society of Nephrology Disaster Response Group, has been heading the effort along with Maria Ferris to establish a network of support throughout the United States for supplies and personnel available to either travel to the disaster region or accept patients at their respective institutions in need of emergency dialysis (see this link for more information). Tim updates the PedsNeph listserve on the daily ASN Disaster Response Group conference calls. IPNA and our global community are prepared to assist the relief effort with funds, supplies, and expertise as needed.

–Dr. Frederick Kaskel

Make a Donation to Haiti

A comprehensive list of organizations collecting funds for this disaster may be found at http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti.

IPNA recommends the organizations below:

Red Cross

Partners in Health

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières

UNICEF

Emergency Support to Haiti

In response to the disaster in Haiti, the IPNA in collaboration with the ASPN and ASN, is requesting our communities’ support in establishing a network of centers and resources to provide needed services to the victims. The IPNA efforts thus far include a commitment of $15,000 towards the relief effort and facilitation of a data base of institutions, contact information and resources to assist in either receiving patients for care and/or your availability and members of your team to travel to a designated medical facility to provide pediatric nephrology services.

Thank you for your support and vision for a better Haiti

The information we will need includes the following:

1. Your Name
2. Your Hospital name and location
3. Your email
4. Your office phone
5. Your after hours phone (e.g. cell phone)
6. Number of kids you could take
7. Are you interested and able to go to Haiti (this most likely will not occur)?

If this goes forward I will share with you my knowledge from the issues that arose 15 years ago from this issue of communication, support of these families, perhaps immigrations issues that arose, etc.

Please contact Tim at Timothy.Bunchman@devoschildrens.org

Timothy E Bunchman
Professor & Director Pediatric Nephrology & Transplantation
Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
221 Michigan St NE
Suite 406
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Office Tel 616-391-3788/866-989-7999
Office Fax 616-391-7930
Beeper 616-479-3431
Cell 616-822-1646
look at www.pcrrt.com for information on pediatric critical care nephrology

Renée Habib, MD, 1924–2009

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Dr. Renée Habib, on December 4, 2009, in Paris, France. Mme Habib was one of the giants of Pediatric Nephrology. Throughout her professional life as a physician and scientist, she demonstrated extraordinary insight and understanding regarding the pathology of kidney diseases and contributed to significant advances in the treatment of different disorders. Far beyond her exceptional scientific contributions, however, Mme Habib was also an outstanding teacher and mentor, devoted to training the next generation of clinicians and investigators across the globe. On a personal note, I had the great privilege and honor of working with and learning from her and she was one of my most influential mentors. Mme Habib was instrumental in the establishment of Pediatric Nephrology as a discipline in scientific communities and institutions worldwide, and she touched the lives of many of us, directly and indirectly, in her tireless efforts to expand the research scope and number of pediatric nephrologists internationally.

Pediatric Nephrology has lost one its founders but she will remain a seminal figure in the scientific history and progress of our discipline. Her legacy will be appreciated and admired for generations to come.

Isidro B. Salusky, M.D.
IPNA Secretary General

New Grant Deadline for OHF

The Oxalosis and Hyperoxaluria Foundation (OHF) recently issued the following important changes to grant application deadline: The 2009 OHF Grant Application Deadline has been changed. The new grant deadline will be September 15, 2009. Please mark your calendars accordingly.

The Research Grant program assists investigators, new or established, who have research projects for which they need support. While the OHF primarily seeks to fund grants which will focus on Primary Hyperoxaluria, the OHF also is interested in grants focused on systemic oxalosis, oxalate metabolism, and new therapies to treat the adverse consequences of  hyperoxaluria.

Support: Applications for up to two years of support will be considered. These funds may be used in the following categories: Personnel, Supplies, Other Costs, Travel, and Equipment. Indirect costs up to 10% of the direct costs (excluding equipment) may be requested.

To learn more visit: http://www.ohf.org/grants.html

Statement on Melamine Guidelines

Kidney Disease from Powdered Infant Formula-based Melamine Exposure in Chinese Infants.

Click to download PDF

Fellowships in Pediatric Nephrology

The International Pediatric Nephrology Association is pleased to announce the establishment of fellowships of 6-12 months in duration for pediatricians interested in pursuing further training in various aspects of pediatric nephrology. The underlying principle of this program is to provide pediatricians who work far from a pediatric nephrology training center with training in order to disseminate knowledge of pediatric nephrology to different regions around the world. Preference will be given to candidates who apply to training centers within their geographical area.

Any individual interested in this training program should see our Fellowship Page.

Application deadlines are April 1 and October 1, respectively.