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KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (Dec. 12, 2022) — NephCure Kidney International (NephCure) is excited to announce new co-chairs for the organization’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB): Alessia Fornoni, M.D., Ph.D., and Matthias Kretzler, M.D.
Drs. Fornoni and Kretzler, expert glomerular disease nephrologists who actively serve on NephCure’s SAB, will assume the roles of co-chairs following the term completion of former chairman Martin Pollak, M.D.
“Dr. Fornoni and Dr. Kretzler have been indispensable partners of NephCure and the rare kidney disease research and care community, and we’re honored that they have agreed to lead our SAB,” said Josh Tarnoff, NephCure CEO. “Their combined ‘extensive research bench to bedside care’ experience and expertise have provided tangible progress and hope to the kidney community, an integral part of our mission. We are grateful for their passion and leadership to help push glomerular disease research and treatment forward.”
Dr. Fornoni is a Professor of Medicine and Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is the Chief of the Katz Family Division of Nephrology and Hypertension and serves as and Director and Chair of the Peggy and Harold Katz Drug Discovery Center. Through her pioneering work on insulin signaling, cholesterol metabolism and sphingolipid-related pathways, Dr. Fornoni uncovered novel pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutic approaches for glomerular disorders.
Dr. Kretzler is the Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor of Medicine/Nephrology and Computational Medicine/Bioinformatics at the University of Michigan. For the last 35 years of his life, he has focused his research efforts on studying glomerular failure and finding novel ways to treat it. Dr. Kretzler’s work has helped to redefined glomerular diseases in mechanistic terms. This framework is a driving force to develop and test novel precision medicine strategy for people with kidney disease, and hopefully bring the right drug to the right patient at the right time.
Dr. Pollak, the previous chairman of the SAB, is a leader in the research of the genetic basis of rare kidney disease. His research lab discovered the genetic tie between people of African descent and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a groundbreaking finding that has helped explain why Black Americans have a higher risk of kidney disease. Dr. Pollak continues working to identify genes involved in the development of FSGS in minority populations. Although he will be stepping down as chairman, Dr. Pollak will continue to sit on the SAB and serve the rare kidney disease community.
Rare kidney disease is experiencing a revolution in research breakthroughs, care, and significantly expanded interest, which has led to NephCure’s responsibilities and programming significantly increasing. The addition of co-chairs reflect this important role to the SAB not only due to the responsibilities hosted in the position, but to help pave a way for new research in the kidney community.
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About NephCure Kidney International
NephCure Kidney International’s mission is to accelerate research for effective treatments for nephrotic syndrome, FSGS, and other forms of rare, protein-spilling kidney disease, and to provide education and support that will improve the lives of those affected by these conditions. Founded in 2000 by a group of committed patient parents, NephCure has invested more than $40 million in kidney disease research and helped create a landscape where there are now more than 60 interventional drug trials for primary glomerular kidney diseases. NephCure is a U.S. tax exempt 501(c)(3) public charity.
