Dear ASN Members,
Over the past few months, Congress, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and other governmental agencies have raised questions and sharpened their focus on safety, payment, and quality issues in the treatment of patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Much of the debate has focused on anemia management in ESRD patients. The recent House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee hearing entitled "Ensuring Kidney Patients Receive Safe and Appropriate Anemia Management Care" highlighted the need to control the cost of anemia management and ensure that Medicare's reimbursement policy does not provide incentives for over-utilizing anemia management drugs.
It was clear at the hearing that there is growing support for a shift from the current CMS model of paying independently for dialysis services and separately billable drugs and labs to a system of bundled prospective payment. This should be carefully examined.
The ASN feels that any legislation or initiative to reform the CMS ESRD payment system must take into account patient variability in responding to EPO; maintain adequate payments for dialysis services; do more to fund education programs in the CKD and ESRD populations to encourage prevention; be sensitive to the disproportionate impact of kidney disease on minority populations; and take precautions to insure that rural and small dialysis providers are compensated fairly.
In the coming weeks, as Congress begins a push to move health care legislation, we will continue to reach out to members of Congress and serve as a resource to help them understand this important issue.
Sincerely yours,
William Henrich, MD, FASN
2. 2007 ASN Award Winners
The 2007 ASN Awards recipients are as follows:
The 2007 ASN Robert G. Narins Award will be presented to Dr. Richard Glassock, MD at Renal Week 2007. Dr. Glassock currently works at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he serves as Professor Emeritus.
Doctor Glassock is an internationally recognized expert in the field of Glomerular Diseases and Clinical Nephrology. He has published over 400 original papers, books, book chapters and reviews in Nephrology and is the past-president of the American Society of Nephrology and the National Kidney Foundation. He is also past-Chairman of the American Board of Internal Medicine. In 1999 he was elected to Mastership in the American College of Physicians. He is also a member of the American Association of Physicians and the former Chair of the Department of Medicine and the University of Kentucky and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. From 1967 to 1992 he was the Chief of Nephrology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where he was continuously funded by the NIH from 1967 to 1987.
Dr. Glassock has lectured in over 85 countries and has been a visiting professor at over 100 distinguished academic institutions throughout the world. He has trained over 50 nephrologists, many of whom have gone on to distinguished academic posts. He is co-Editor (with Shaul Massry) of the Textbook of Nephrology (now in its 4 th edition) and is an honorary member of many International Nephrology Societies.
He is the recipient of the David Hume Memorial Award of the National Kidney Foundation, the Distinguished Achievement Award of the UCLA School of Medicine and the Association of Professors of Medicine, and the recipient of the Torchbearer Award of the American Kidney Fund. He is the current Editor in Chief of the NephSAP journal for the American Society of Nephrology.
The 2007 ASN John P. Peters Award will be presented to Dr. Giuseppe Remuzzi, MD, FRCP, at Renal Week 2007. Dr. Remuzzi currently works at the Ospedali Riuniti ti Bergamo in Bergamo, Italy where he serves as a Professor of Nephrology, the Coordinator of the Department of Medicine and Transplantation, and Director of the Division of Nephrology and Dialysis. He also directs the Negri Bergamo Laboratories of the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research.
Particularly far-reaching are his contributions to our understanding of the pathophysiology of hemolytic uremic syndrome, prostaglandin metabolism in pregnancy, renal vascular biology in uremia, the role of protein trafficking in renal disease progression, the induction of graft tolerance by intrathymic injection of donor antigens, and the role of the co-stimulatory CD28-B67 pathway in transplant rejection and the prevention of renal and cardiovascular damage in diabetes. Dr. Remuzzi serves on editorial boards of numerous journals including the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine and is member of the International Advisory Board of The Lancet. In recognition of his achievements, he has been awarded in 1998 honorary memberships in the Association of American Physicians and the British Royal Society of Physicians. In 2005 during the World Congress of Nephrology in Singapore he received the ISN Jean Hamburger Award. Dr. Remuzzi has authored and co-authored more than 880 scientific articles, reviews and monographs.
The 2007 ASN Belding H. Scribner Award will be presented to Dr. Edmund Lewis, MD, at Renal Week 2007. Dr. Lewis currently works at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois where he serves as the Muehrcke Family Professor of Nephrology and Director of the Section of Nephrology.
Much of his career has been devoted to the study of immunopathologic mechanisms of glomerular disease, particularly lupus nephritis. In addition, he has focused attention upon clinicopathologic relationships. He described and named the lesion of immunotactoid glomerulopathy. In addition, he coauthored the paper which first defined the cellular lesion of focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. He was an active participant, as immunopathology consultant, in the International Study of Kidney Disease in Children (ISKDC). As a member of the Pathology Committee of the ISKDC he co-authored the first World Health Organization Classification of Lupus Nephritis. His ISKDC experience led him to organize the Collaborative Study Group, whose initial study of plasmapheresis in severe lupus nephritis led to many important observations regarding clinical and histologic features which determine response to therapy in this patient population. He has been the Principal Investigator for the Collaborative Study Group for the last 27 years. Dr. Lewis continues to work in the field of diabetic nephropathy and is currently the Principal Investigator in trials testing sulodexide, a heparinoid agent which may be acting as a heparanase inhibitor.
The 2007 ASN Homer W. Smith Award will be presented to Dr. Qais Al-Awqati, MD, at Renal Week 2007. Dr. Al-Awqati currently works at Columbia University in New York City, where he serves as the Robert F. Loeb Professor of Medicine and Professor of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics.
Dr. Al-Awqati obtained his medical degree at the University of Baghdad College of Medicine. While a resident in medicine, Iraq suffered a major epidemic of cholera, the first in its modern history. Al-Awqati established a special hospital for the treatment of such patients, a treatment that was so successful that only one patient died out of more than 400 admitted. In 1967, Dr Al-Awqati became a resident at the Baltimore City Hospital and a Fellow in Infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins where he worked with W.B. Greenough. They in collaboration with M. Field at Harvard discovered the mechanism of action of cholera toxin. From 1970 to 1974 he was at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital as a Postdoctoral Fellow first and a junior Faculty member. After a brief sojourn at the University of Iowa as an assistant Professor, he came to Columbia in 1977. He was the Chief of the Kidney Disease Division at Columbia for 25 years. He is now the Deputy Director of the Columbia Genome Center.
Dr. Al-Awqati was the first to introduce the modern concepts of cell biology to Epithelial and Renal Physiology. In the process, he also made important contributions to the field of cell biology.
The 2007 ASN Young Investigator Award will be presented to Dr. Michelle Winn, MD at Renal Week 2007. Dr. Winn currently works at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina where she serves as an Assistant Professor of Medicine.
During Dr. Winn's clinical Nephrology fellowship training, a colleague brought to her attention a family with familial kidney disease. Subsequently, she became increasingly interested in the familial clustering of renal diseases. She was further motivated by observations of the devastating consequences of this condition in so many of her patients with the sporadic form of this same disease. This clinical interest led to a research project that included ascertainment and phenotyping of a large New Zealand kindred with familial FSGS. Subsequently, the formal research portion of her fellowship began in July, 1997, when she entered the laboratory of Dr. Jeffery Vance, co-director, Duke Center for Human Genetics.
Since that time, she has ascertained 100 families with familial FSGS, developing one of the largest databases for familial FSGS in the world. After performing linkage analysis, fine-mapping and candidate gene analysis, a novel cause for familial FSGS was discovered—a mutation in a gene encoding an ion channel, transient receptor potential cation channel 6 (TRPC6). Their studies demonstrated for the first time that altered function of an ion channel could cause proteinuria and FSGS, which significantly altered prevailing views in the field. Previous studies linked three FSGS genes to the podocyte cytoskeleton. Moreover, their study provided the first association of TRPC6 with a human disease. They also established an important link between angiotensin and TRPC6.
The ASN congratulates all recipients.
3. Call for Informational Posters For Renal Week
The ASN program committee is again soliciting abstracts (300 words or less) that contain information about ongoing clinical trials or research services available in core facilities at academic institutions. These abstracts will be displayed during the ASN meeting poster sessions. Submitted abstracts should include a brief background; study goals, hypotheses or description of available core services; trial inclusion/exclusion recruitment criteria if appropriate; and funding agency. Preference will be given to studies and resources supported by federal and NGO agencies. Abstracts should be submitted to Karen Campbell, PhD, Executive Director at kcampbell@asn-online.org no later than Friday, August 31, 2007. These abstracts will be reviewed and decision for inclusion made no later than September 28, 2007.
4. 12th Annual Board Review Course and Update
Join the ASN August 25-31st, 2007 at The Palace Hotel in San Francisco for the ASN's Board Review Course & Update. The BRC is an intensive review and update for all and a must for Certification & Re-Certification. It has become a "Renal Rite of Passage" that can be customized to fit your specific needs. The timing of the ASN Board Review Course & Update in late August maximizes attendees' readiness for the November Nephrology Board certification and recertification examinations of the American Board of Internal Medicine. After completion of the course and the self-assessment test on September 1, participants have a full two months to fill in any gaps in their knowledge.
It's August, It's San Francisco, So it must be the ASN's Board Review Course!
5. NIDDK Seeking Director for DKUHD
Director, Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases (DKUHD)
National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
National Institutes of Health
Department of Health and Human Services
THE POSITION: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is seeking exceptional candidates for the position of Director, Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases (DKUHD). The incumbent reports to the Director, NIDDK and serves as a member of the senior leadership team. DKUHD is one of five extramural divisions in the Institute and is responsible for approximately $400 million annually in research awards. The Division maintains research programs in kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. The scope of research is very broad and includes both basic and clinical research in fundamental aspects and diseases of the kidney and urogenital system and disease and hematology, including targeted research in glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease, end stage renal disease, benign prostatic hyperplasia, painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis, and women's urologic health. The mission includes many diseases, ranging from rare to very common. The Director is responsible for setting scientific priorities and decision making in the division and allocation of the budget. The Director interacts frequently with national leadership of professional societies, lay organizations and advocacy groups and is responsible for providing advice on Congressional inquiries within the mission of the division. The NIDDK seeks candidates who have a significant track record of scientific research achievement, senior management experience, and outstanding communication skills.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: Applicants must possess an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree, with sub-specialization in nephrology or urology, national recognition for leadership in kidney or urologic research, and significant management experience. Candidates should be outstanding communicators and known and respected within their professions as distinguished individuals of outstanding competence.
SALARY/BENEFITS: Salary is commensurate with experience and a full package of Civil Service benefits is available, including: retirement, health and life insurance, long term care insurance, leave and savings plan (401K equivalent). This position is subject to a background investigation.
HOW TO APPLY: Curriculum Vitae, Bibliography, and two letters of recommendation must be received by August 31, 2007. Application packages should be sent to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), 31 Center Drive, MSC 2560, Building 31, Room 9A-16, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. For further information, please call (301) 594-7772. All information provided by candidates will remain confidential and will not be released outside the NIDDK search process without a signed release from candidates.
DHHS and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers
6. Nephrology Program in India
Service opportunity at an outstanding Nephrology program in India.
Christian Medical College, Vellore, one of the preemiminent medical schools in South Asia is seeking qualified nephrologists to work at Vellore for a 3 to 6 month period starting immediately. This is an great service opportunity at a comprehensive nephrology training program. Consider spending your vacation or a mini sabbatical at Vellore in South India. For more details please contact George Chandy MD, Director, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India; tel: 011 91 416 2282010, email: directorate@cmcvellore.ac.in or Christie Thomas MD at 319-3564216, christie-thomas@uiowa.edu.
7.CJASN to be Indexed by PubMed's MEDLINE
The Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) was selected in late June by the National Institute of Health's National Library of Medicine (NLM) to be indexed and included in PubMed's MEDLINE. According to MEDLINE Executive Editor Sheldon Kotzin, citations from the articles indexed, the indexing terms and the abstracts printed in CJASN will be included in the database. All past issues will also be indexed as soon as possible. MEDLINE will make CJASN's citations and abstracts available world wide via the Internet.
JASN has been indexed since the first issue, July 1990.
According to NLM's website, MEDLINE is a bibliographic database containing, “over 15 million references to journal articles in life sciences with a concentration on biomedicine.” MEDLINE covers publications from 1950 to the present and currently provides citations from approximately 5,000 journals in 37 languages. Between 2,000 and 4,000 references are added each day, five days each week. 623,000 references were added in 2006.
MEDLINE is a part of MEDLARS. More information about MEDLARS can be found here. More information about MEDLINE can be found here.
