Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons today announced the David Koch Jr. Glomerular Kidney Center to advance clinical research, physician education and training, and care for patients with glomerular diseases, which impair the kidney's filters. The center, established with a $20 million gift from the David Koch Jr. Foundation, will build on Columbia's groundbreaking work to develop innovative diagnostics and treatments for these rare kidney diseases.
"While significant progress has been made in diagnosing and treating glomerular diseases, there is still much work to be done," said Gerald Appel, MD, professor of medicine and the center's inaugural co-director, who created the nation's first academic research, clinical, and medical education program focused on glomerular diseases at Columbia in 2000. "This transformational gift from the David Koch Jr. Foundation will strengthen our initiatives to identify new therapeutic strategies that may lead to sustained remission and potential cures for patients with rare kidney diseases." The center is co-directed by Andrew Bomback, MD, associate professor of medicine and an expert in glomerular diseases.
Columbia's center will also offer expert care to patients with glomerular disease, including patients who are referred by other kidney specialists in the United States and abroad, and expand education and training in glomerular diseases for medical professionals through a fellowship program.
"The David Koch Jr. Glomerular Kidney Center will build on Columbia's trailblazing work to improve care and outcomes for all patients with kidney disease," said James McKiernan, MD, interim dean of the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and CEO of ColumbiaDoctors. "Led by two visionary glomerular disease experts, Dr. Gerald Appel and Dr. Andrew Bomback, the center will enable our researchers and clinicians to expand our program through collaborations with Columbia's world-class experts in numerous fields, including epidemiology, biostatistics, structural biology, and genomics, among others."
Columbia physician-scientists have helped advance the care of patients with rare kidney disease by establishing non chemotherapy-based regimens for lupus nephritis, formulating diagnostic criteria for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and C3 glomerulopathy, and utilizing complement-based therapies as disease- targeting agents.
"With an emphasis on discovery and innovation that can be shared with the global nephrology community, this center will enable our division's innovative research and patient care to impact the health of generations to come, not just in New York but around the world," Dr. Bomback said.
