Press releases

Grants support innovation, exploration and application research projects around the world to advance the knowledge of kidney disease and treatment

DEERFIELD, Ill., November 2, 2007 - Baxter Healthcare Corporation announced today that four global research projects focused on advancing the knowledge of kidney disease and treatment will receive $1.5 million in research funding over the next three years as winners of its annual Renal Discoveries Extramural Grant Program (EGP). 

Now in its 18th year, the competitive grant program supports patient-oriented research proposed by nephrologists from around the world who are working on the topic of chronic kidney disease (CKD), dialysis therapies and its co-morbidities. Each grant also includes funding for research fellowship training at the institutions conducting the research.

The newly awarded grants come from four regions:

Asia Pacific: Australia
Institution: Princess Alexandra Hospital
Sponsor: David Wayne Johnson, MB, BS, FRACP, PhD
Principal Investigator: Nicole Maree Isbel, MB, BS, FRACP, PhD
Fellow: Carolyn Clark, BSc, MBChB, FRACP
Title: HONEYPOT (A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluation of Antibacterial Honey Versus Nasal Eradication of Staphylococci for the Prevention of Tenckhoff Infections in PD

Europe: Spain
Institution: Hospital Universitario La Paz
Sponsor: Rafael Selgas, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator: Manuel Lopez-Cabrera, PhD
Fellow: Rafael Sánchez-Villanueva, MD, PhD
Title: Cardiovascular Disease and Peritoneal Membrane Damage in Peritoneal Dialysis as Concurrent Consequences of a Common Mechanism Dependent on the Glucose Effect in Peritoneal Adipocytes

Latin America: Mexico
Institution: Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez
Sponsor: Benjamin Romero, MD
Principal Investigator: Mara Medeiros, MD, PhD
Fellow: Yolanda Fuentes, MD
Title: Improvement of Nutritional State By Intradialytical Parenteral Nutrition in Children Treated with Hemodialysis

North America: United States
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Sponsor: Thomas R. Kleyman, MD
Principal Investigator: Mark Unruh, MD, MSc
Fellow: Christos Argyropoulos, MD, PhD
Title: Uncovering Confounders In The Epidemiology Of Dialysis Trials (UNCONFINED)

An independent Medical Advisory Board (MAB) of eight prominent nephrologists selected the four winning proposals from a competitive group of 73 submissions from 24 countries. Each will receive $375,000 over the next three years to conduct research that can be translated into clinical applications to improve care for patients with kidney disease.

The projects we are funding with these grants are novel research ideas,” said MAB member Dr. Carol Pollock, PhD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney Royal North Shore Hospital. “Patient-oriented research such as this provides the seeds that could lead to the discovery of new detection and diagnostic procedures, drugs and other treatments, as well as give us insights into how currently available therapies can be best utilized.”

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.

Since 1989, the Renal Discoveries EGP has distributed more than $30 million to 265 researchers from 24 countries, much of that focused on the work of promising new investigators, as the grant provides operating funds for full-time training of one fellow in nephrology research during the course of the grant period at the institution.

“Having been a recipient of an award from the Baxter Renal Discoveries EGP when I was a junior faculty member, I am very aware of the difference that these awards make to the careers of young nephrologists,” said Pollock. “Funding for beginning researchers can be difficult to come by, and it means a lot to be able to conduct your research in a quality, academic setting.”

Call for 2008 Proposals

The Renal Discoveries EGP will fund four additional proposals in 2008 for research in the fields of dialytic therapies, chronic kidney disease and co-morbidities associated with end-state renal disease (ESRD). As in the prior years, an independent international MAB will evaluate and score each application.

Grants are solicited and awarded each year on a rolling basis, with the goal of enabling researchers to pursue broad, long-term basic or clinical studies, and must have a clear application for patients. Such studies are critical to enhancing the collective knowledge base on kidney disease and treatment.

“The renal scientific community has shown tremendous interest in the Renal Discoveries program, and the projects funded so far have contributed to innovation in renal research,” said Sarah S. Prichard, MD, vice president of global medical/clinical affairs and research for Baxter’s Renal business.  “Renal Discoveries provides a research training ground for nephrology trainees who are the investigators of the future, and who are especially reliant on new and predictable funding to further their research careers.”

The deadline for applicants to submit a letter of intent is April 7, 2008. The full grant application deadline is September 5, 2008. Application information is available at www.baxter.com/egp.

About Baxter

Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX). Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists healthcare professionals and their patients with treatment of complex medical conditions, including hemophilia, immune disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma and other indications. 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 www.baxter.com. For more information on the Renal Discoveries Extramural Grant Program, please visit www.baxter.com/egp, write egp_baxter@baxter.com or call +1-847-473-6991.