FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Wendy Maris or Janell Aust (816) 474-9407
Tanja Heinen (800) PKD-CURE (753-2873)
Major Funding Breakthrough in Battle to Find Cure for Polycystic Kidney Disease
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (October 20, 1999) -- The Polycystic Kidney Research (PKR) Foundation announces a major funding breakthrough in its battle to discover a treatment and cure for polycystic kidney disease, the most common of all life-threatening genetic diseases.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in collaboration with the PKR Foundation, has awarded grants totaling $20 million over the next five years for research centers on polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The PKR Foundation will supplement these grants through its $5 million END PKD Campaign while continuing to fund its ongoing PKD research initiatives.
"For the past ten years, we've lobbied Congress and the NIDDK to establish PKD centers and to increase its overall funding of PKD research," Dan Larson, PKR Foundation president and CEO said. "We knew from observing how other diseases have made major research strides forward that establishing PKD Magnet Centers of Excellence would be critical to finding a treatment and an eventual cure for the millions of children and adults living with PKD worldwide."
Researchers at Yale University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital/Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, and the University of Kansas Medical Center each received a PKD center award. Each center will take a different approach to developing treatments and a cure for PKD.
"We are pleased to award these grants to some of the most innovative and cutting-edge researchers in the field," said Dr. Josephine Briggs, director of NIDDK's Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases. "Polycystic kidney disease is the hottest topic in renal science at the present time. This research is critical to developing treatments and hopefully a cure for this devastating disease."
The NIDDK awarded grants to the following principle investigators:
* Stefan Somlo, M.D., Yale University School of Medicine, $1,150,000
* Gregory Germino, M.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, $844,396
* Ellis D. Avner, M.D., Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital/Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, $775,000
* Jared J. Grantham, M.D., University of Kansas Medical Center, $774,999
More than 840 disease-specific research centers exist around the country. However, these are the first center awards for PKD. "With the establishment of these centers, the best scientific minds now believe we are within a five- to 10-year window of developing a treatment for PKD," Larson continued.
"It's a relief to know this disease is finally getting recognition, and we're moving more quickly toward finding a cure. It's very exciting," says Kevin Gilbride, offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Gilbride's father died from PKD, and three siblings and many relatives have the disease.
"Establishing these centers will take research to a much higher level," said Drew Netter, PKR Foundation vice-chairman. "We now have an opportunity to focus research efforts, and this should speed the process of finding a treatment and ultimately a cure." Netter also has a personal investment in the centers; several members of his family have PKD, including himself.
The PKR Foundation is the catalyst in drawing attention and financial support to this disease. Founded in 1982, the PKR Foundation awarded its first grant in 1984 for $25,000. That same year, the first federal grant for PKD research was also funded. Private research funding from the PKR Foundation surpassed $1 million in 1998, with federal grants reaching $7.8 million during the same period. Continuing the trend, this year is on track to bring a significant increase in funding through both private and public efforts. The PKR Foundation's END PKD Campaign will continue through April 2000.
PKD affects 12--15 million children and adults worldwide and is more common than cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell anemia, hemophilia, muscular dystrophy and Down's syndrome combined. PKD affects men and women equally, regardless of age, race or ethnic origin.
The disease causes fluid-filled cysts to form on the kidneys, which interferes with kidney function and most often culminates in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), requiring either dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival. Each child of an affected parent has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the disease.
The annual cost to the federal government for PKD-associated treatment, including dialysis and kidney transplants, is estimated at $2 billion. There currently is no known treatment or cure for PKD.
Information from the PKR Foundation about PKD should be reviewed with your physician if you have one or more of these common PKD symptoms: high blood pressure; a family history of kidney problems, heart problems or strokes; kidney stones; frequent urinary tract infections; constant or intermittent pain in the back, side or stomach areas; or blood in urine.
The PKR Foundation is the world's only organization dedicated to discovering the cause, improving clinical treatment and finding a cure for PKD. In addition to promoting research programs, the organization strives to build public awareness and to educate patients, the U.S. Congress and physicians about the disease. In addition, the PKR Foundation operates 46 volunteer support groups located throughout the United States and in Canada and Japan.
For more information, or a free packet of information about PKD, contact the PKR Foundation at (800) PKD-CURE (800/753-2873) or visit their web site at www.pkdcure.org.
# # #
RSS