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NHMRC’s Gustav Nossal Award is named in honour of Sir Gustav Nossal and his pioneering work in the field of immunology. It is awarded to the highest ranked applicant of NHMRC’s Postgraduate Scholarships in the field of medical and dental research.

University of Queensland – Doctor Chan is currently a full-time PhD student with the Australasian Kidney Trials Network at the Princess Alexandra Hospital/University of Queensland. Doctor Chan is a Nephrology Staff Specialist at the Metro South and Ipswich Nephrology and Transplant Services, as well as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland. Doctor Chan’s clinical research interests focus on clinical epidemiology and population health, and he is currently studying the epidemiology, predictors, outcomes and prevention of infectious complications of kidney transplantation. Doctor Chan’s thesis will explore the predictors and pathogenesis of infectious complications following kidney transplantation, and examine the feasibility, safety and efficacy of innovative approaches to mitigate this burden.

World Kidney Day is a global awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness to the importance of kidney health. Chronic Kidney Disease is estimated to effect 850 million people worldwide from various causes.

In its 14th year, World Kidney Day 2019 theme of “Kidney Health for Everyone, Everywhere” calls for universal health coverage for prevention and early treatment of kidney diseases.

Professor Carmel Hawley, AKTN Chair has worked in kidney medicine for over 30 years. Her recent post “On the journey towards better kidney health” highlights the work of the Australasian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN).

“I’m part of a team working towards better treatment for kidney disease, through research, collaborations and most importantly clinical trials.” – Professor Carmel Hawley

Read the post here “On the journey towards better kidney health”

More on World Kidney Day visit: www.worldkidneyday.org

Associate Professor Sunil Badve has received the NHMRC Project Grant for the PHOSPHATE Study. Patients with end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis often have elevated blood levels of phosphate. Since high blood levels of phosphate are associated with increased risk of death and heart problems, clinical guidelines recommend prescribing phosphate-lowering medications to reduce the reducing phosphate levels in the blood.

However, the effect of lowering blood phosphate levels on important patient-centred outcomes has never been tested. The PHOSPHATE Study will evaluate whether compared to high levels, lowering blood phosphate levels would reduce death or major events due to heart disease, improve physical health, and be cost-effective. This international trial will be conducted in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom. For further information about the trial, please contact phosphate@uq.edu.au.

For further information regarding these grants, please visit the following UQ news articles:

• $18 million NHMRC funding supports Faculty researchers, Faculty of Medicine
• $42m to tackle global health issues, UQ Communications

Congratulations to Dr Badve on this achievement.

Dr Andrea Viecelli has been awarded by the Jacquot Research Establishment Fellowship to undertake her research program, ‘Towards improving patient-important outcomes in haemodialysis’ in 2019.

Please congratulate Andrea on her success.

In September, the AKTN Team joined thousands of people across the country taking part in the annual Big Red Kidney Walk. The walk now in it’s seventh year, raises much needed funds, awareness and shows support to over 1.7 million people and their families, living with kidney disease in Australia.

Go Team!