UKRO

Congratulations to the awesome, hardworking Class of 2021 Keck School of Medicine of USC Nephrology Fellows who graduated last weekend! In the first pic, left to right: Dr. Ken Hallows, Ragashree Varadarajan, Tiffany Truong, Annika Khine, Thanh Cao, Dr. Hui Yi Shan

We're very proud to be a part of this exciting research! https://stemcell.keck.usc.edu/building-mini-kidneys/

Eun Ji Chung, Ph.D., from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, is collaborating with Ken Hallows, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.S.N., Director of the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center on an exciting project, using tiny nanoparticles called "micelles", to target diseased kidney cells. Made with an ingenious kidney-targeting peptide, these biocompatible and biodegradable micelles can pass into the kidney and remain there, with the potential to deliver life-saving drugs where they are needed most. This beautiful graphic by Katya Kadyshevskaya illustrates the process.

The theme of World Kidney Day 2021 is Living Well with Kidney Disease. The KRC researchers are doing amazing work to help patients live well by tackling the most common inherited kidney disease, polycystic kidney disease or PKD. They are analyzing protein expression in PKD tissue (shown here) to find new drug targets, and they are looking for ways to repurpose drugs for novel uses to fight PKD.

Happy World Kidney Day 2021! To celebrate, we're highlighting some of the vital research taking place at the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center (KRC) to improve patients' lives and alleviate the suffering of millions of adults and children. First up, we have the work of Dr. Andy McMahon, Director, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC and Dr. Zhongwei Li of the KRC. They are collaborating with labs across USC to build a transplantable, synthetic kidney to replace normal kidney function in patients. Dr. Li is also creating kidney organoids or "mini kidneys" to model kidney diseases and test new therapies. Check out our website to learn more about their fascinating work. https://ukrocharity.org/

Join us for an exciting free Zoom conversation on World Kidney Day, Thursday, 3/11/21 at 4:00 p.m! USC experts Ken Hallows, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.S.N., Zhongwei Li, Ph.D., and Eun Ji Chung, Ph.D., will discuss polycystic kidney disease, novel drug development and targeting for kidney delivery, and how synthetic mini kidneys are shaping the future of kidney disease research and treatment. Follow the link to find out more and RSVP. https://ksom-usc.zoom.us//regist/WN_TY53XAfxTAmMf8kLeOFUPQ

So happy to hear that Stevie Wonder is feeling great!

Amazon Prime Day is here! It's so easy to make a difference & support UKRO while you shop today and tomorrow, October 13 & 14 at smile.amazon.com/ch/03-0459723. You can also support us in the Amazon Shopping app by selecting AmazonSmile "ON."

Congratulations to Inspiration Award honoree Dr. Nuria Pastor-Soler of the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center at the Keck School of Medicine of USC for her amazing leadership and dedication to creating a robust pipeline of future nephrologists and kidney disease researchers! https://www.ama-assn.org//women/inspiration-award-honorees

According to a new study, your neighborhood may raise your risk of chronic kidney disease. "Our finding, that people who are living in neighborhoods with the fewest resources are at highest risk for kidney disease, should be a call to health providers to integrate knowledge about their patients' environments in their care processes, and to policymakers to allocate resources to at-risk communities that will promote health," said senior author Meera Harhay, MD, an associate professor of Medicine at Drexel's College of Medicine and Dornsife School of Public Health. https://medicalxpress.com//2020-09-neighborhood-chronic-ki

In the age of COVID-19, kidney research is more important than ever. The next epidemic will be chronic kidney disease in the U.S. among those who recovered from the coronavirus.

Find out why the coronavirus pandemic presents particular challenges and dangers for kidney patients in a message from UKRO President Ken Kleinberg & Dr. Vito Campese. http://ukrocharity.org/

An important study from USC! https://news.usc.edu//antibody-testing-covid-19-pandemic-/

Fun pic of Dr. Ken Hallows and Taneisha Jackson from the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center!

Our amazing board member created this nifty selfie backdrop for our World Kidney Day health fair at Keck Medicine of USC which was cancelled due to COVID-19. Everyone stay safe and healthy out there. We'll make it through this.

Happy World Kidney Day to all! Congrats to our spokesperson Valen Cover Keefer on her awesome new website launching today. Be sure to check it out! valenkeefer.com

We have a great My Kidney Wish transplant story for your Valentine's Day! "In 2008, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at one of the most promising times in my life. Suffering from gout, leg cramps, headaches, and inflammation, I was just starting my masters degree classes at USC while working as an administrative manager and assistant to a dean at the school. With a lot of love, support, and strength from my husband Mike, daughter Christina, and "bonus" daughter Sa...mantha, I managed to go through dialysis and received a precious kidney from Mike in 2009. My story is a testament to the importance of research and the miracle of modern science. My husband and I were not a blood match, but our tissue match resulted in a successful transplant and a healthy life for me. I am now thriving with my own business and a masters degree in education from USC. This Valentine's Day, My Kidney Wish is to see an increase in kidney transplant research so that many more patients can find matches, receive transplants, and enjoy long, healthy lives with the ones they love. Please join us in our fight to cure kidney disease by donating today." https://www.justgiving.com/universitykidneyresearchorganiza Eunice Clarke

Wishing these two well during their transplant surgery tomorrow!

Remembering Dr. King's legacy and wise words today! Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ - Martin Luther King, Jr.

My decision to become a scientist was inspired by my high school biology teacher. She opened my eyes to the beauty of biology and science. I was always fascinated by the kidneys since these organs are complex and challenging. Finding a cure for patients who suffer from kidney disease became more personal when I met my husband. He has polycystic kidney disease and we fight every day hoping to delay the moment of his transplant. My Kidney Wish is to be able to help children an...d adult patients that suffer from renal disease. I am convinced that if we all work together we will make dialysis and transplant a story from the past. Please join us in our fight to cure kidney disease by donating today." https://www.justgiving.com/universitykidneyresearchorganiza Dr. Laura Perin Assistant Professor of Research Urology, Keck School of Medicine of USC and Co-Director of the GOFARR Laboratory, Children's Hospital Los Angeles