Lawson scientists awarded Baxter International Inc. RENAL DISCOVERIES Extramural Grant
London, ON, March 10, 2011 – Lawson Health Research Institute is pleased to mark World Kidney Day with congratulations to Dr.‟s Gihad Nesrallah, Rita Suri, and Robert Lindsay who were recently announced as winners of the Baxter International Inc. RENAL DISCOVERIES Extramural Grant Program. The Renal Discoveries Extramural Grant Program is the largest industry-funded, externally judged grant program in the dialysis sector. Through their support, the Lawson group will receive up to $375,000 in research funding to help advance the knowledge of kidney disease and treatment.
As economics and a growing body of outcomes data increases global interest in home dialysis, patients and providers will benefit from increased information about home dialysis options. The Lawson study, entitled “A Comparative Survival Study of Two Competing Home Dialysis: Short-Daily Hemodialysis Versus Peritoneal Dialysis,” will address two primary questions: 1) do patients who undergo short-daily hemodialysis have different longevity than patients who undergo peritoneal dialysis?; and 2) how do these two forms of dialysis compare with respect to sustainability, i.e. how long are patients able to remain on these therapies before they must switch dialysis techniques? The results of the study are expected to help to guide patients, and their kidney care team, to the best individual treatment choices for optimal outcomes.
“The main outcome of interest in the study will be patient survival - how people do with respect to longevity,” Dr. Nesrallah says. “The second important outcome is the durability of the technique itself, what we call „technique survival.‟ So, how sustainable the treatment is over the long term and whether or not patients are able to stay on that therapy versus having to switch to some other modality.”
The RENAL DISCOVERIES Extramural Grant Program aims to stimulate scientific advancement and general knowledge in nephrology with the goal of improving the quality of life and reducing mortality of patients with kidney disease. This year, the Lawson group was one of four winning proposals selected from more than 60 international entries. Winners were selected for demonstrating the highest quality, patient-oriented clinical research in the area of home dialysis or co-morbidities in patients treated with home dialysis. The grants awarded will provide operating funds for project research.
“Canadian nephrologists have played a key role in advancing renal therapies for patients, so we are very pleased to see continuing support for Canadian-based renal research,” said Barbara Leavitt, general manager, Baxter Corporation. “The award of this grant funding illustrates the high calibre of research being conducted on home dialysis in Canada, which may lead to further improvements in the quality of life and care for patients with chronic kidney disease.”
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Lawson Health Research Institute. As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care, London, and working in partnership with The University of Western Ontario, Lawson Health Research Institute is committed to furthering scientific knowledge to advance health care around the world. www.lawsonresearch.com
For more information, please contact:
Sonya Gilpin Communications & Public Relations
Lawson Health Research Institute
519-685-8500 ext. 75852
sonya.gilpin@lawsonresearch.com
www.lawsonresearch.com
Heather MacDonnell
Communications Manager
Baxter Corporation
(905) 281-6398
heather_macdonnell@baxter.com
Mavis Prall
Baxter Corporation
(847) 473-6560
mavis_prall@baxter.com