Scientists awarded for kidney disease research
Dr Poh-Yi Gan (L) and Dr Sharon Ford (R)
The Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN) has awarded two Monash University researchers for their significant contributions to the advancement of renal medicine.
At the ANZSN annual meeting last month in Melbourne, Dr Poh-Yi Gan received the Best Basic Science Award and Dr Sharon Ford received the Best Young Investigator Award (basic science), for research into kidney disease, undertaken in the Centre for Inflammatory Diseases.
Dr Gan’s research has involved developing a new technique to treat ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), an autoimmune disease causing severe kidney inflammation and permanent damage.
Dr Gan has made a discovery that could lead to new treatment options. Currently, AAV is treated with powerful immunosuppressive drugs that have significant side effects, including diminished immune defence.
Dr Gan has previously been awarded the prize for Best Young Investigator (basic science) on two occasions during her PhD, only two scientists have received awards twice during ANZSN 26-year history of the awards.
Dr Ford’s research is seeking to find the mechanisms that allow for the induction of autoimmunity that cause AAV.
Dr Ford said it was very satisfying to know that her work could help develop new therapeutics that could more effectively treat the disease.
Both researchers are from the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash.
The ANZSN has had a long interest in enhancing research in kidney disease. Members are medical practitioners and researchers interested in the biology and pathology of the kidney.