Newswise — Stanley C. Jordan, M.D., a renowned nephrologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and celebrities George and Ann Lopez were honored for their outstanding contributions in support of the National Kidney Foundation last week in Beverly Hills.
Jordan received the "Spirit of Nephrology" award given annually to an individual from Southern California whose research has furthered the understanding of kidney disease and helped to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from this life-threatening disease. George and Ann Lopez received the "Humanitarian Award" for their work as national spokespersons for the National Kidney Foundation. During surgery at Cedars-Sinai in 2005, George received a kidney from Ann.
Jordan has performed extensive research for more than two decades into various aspects of immunology and transplantation, funded by dozens of research grants and awards, including two prestigious National Institutes of Health controlled clinical trials in kidney transplantation. In a study reported in late 2004, Jordan and his team demonstrated for the first time that intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG) therapy could lower "anti-donor" antibody levels in individuals whose immune systems were "highly sensitized" to "non-self" human leukocyte antigens (HLAs). These antibodies may occur as a result of blood transfusions, earlier organ transplantation or pregnancy.
Without transplantation, "highly sensitized" HLA patients typically would spend the rest of their lives undergoing kidney dialysis several times a week - a painful, costly process that extends life but usually results in a diminishing quality of life.
Jordan, who has been on the Cedars-Sinai staff since 1986, is Director of Kidney Transplantation and Transplant Immunology, Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program and Director of the Division of Pediatric and Adult Nephrology. He is board-certified in pediatrics, pediatric nephrology and diagnostic laboratory immunology.
"Based on our work, most U.S. transplant centers have now developed desensitization protocols to deal with 'highly sensitized' patients, who make up about 30 percent of the patients on the list waiting for an organ," said Jordan. "Prior to this discovery, there were no therapies to give these individuals hope that they could receive a life-saving transplant." Jordan was recently honored for his contributions to improving the science and art of transplantation by the American Society of Transplantation.
Jordan also created a technique to detect post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in its earliest stages, when intervention is most effective. PTLD is a form of cancer that can have catastrophic effects on children who receive donated organs.
In commenting on his National Kidney Foundation award, Jordan said, "I receive the most satisfaction from knowing that our work has saved and improved the lives of countless patients with end-stage renal disease and significantly decreased the costs of caring for such patients. I am deeply touched by being named the recipient of this year's 'Spirit of Nephrology' award."
Previous honorees of this award from Cedars-Sinai include Arthur H. Cohen, M.D., Rhoda Makoff, Ph.D. and Dwight Makoff, M.D.
The first of eight hospitals in California whose nurses have been honored with the prestigious Magnet designation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is one of the largest nonprofit academic medical centers in the Western United States. For 18 consecutive years, it has been named Los Angeles' most preferred hospital for all health needs in an independent survey of area residents. Cedars-Sinai is internationally renowned for its diagnostic and treatment capabilities and its broad spectrum of programs and services, as well as breakthroughs in biomedical research and superlative medical education. It ranks among the top 10 non-university hospitals in the nation for its research activities and was recently fully accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP). Additional information is available at http://www.cedars-sinai.edu.
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