UK Scientist Wins Prestigious International Grant To Support Innovative Research In Renal Diseases

Date: July 23, 2009

A UK renal research unit is among the eight winners of the 2009 Genzyme Renal Innovations Programme (GRIP) awards. Established in 2001, the international GRIP awards aims to support the advancement of medical knowledge and practice in kidney diseases through innovative research in nephrology. Over the past six years GRIP has awarded 56 grants, funding more than £4 million in renal research projects globally and this year ten grants totaling £719,000 are being awarded.

The GRIP award programme, which runs every year, provides individual grants for research initiatives covering periods from one to three years and represents the commitment Genzyme has made to the advancement of medical knowledge and practice in kidney diseases. An independent medical review board composed of global leaders in the nephrology community assessed all grant applications submitted from around the world.

The 2009 GRIP awards winner from the UK is Dr Michael Robson at King’s College London, for his work on the role of Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 in antineutrophil cytosplamic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Dr Michael Robson, Senior Lecturer at King's College London said, "Toll-like receptors are cellular sensors that recognise molecules derived from both infectious organisms and our own tissues.  The GRIP award will allow us to continue our research on how these receptors influence immune-mediated kidney disease, which is an important cause of kidney failure.   This will help us understand the mechanisms responsible for disease, and may also lead to identification of potential therapeutic targets.”

Paul Drohan, VP and GM Genzyme UK and Ireland, said: “I am delighted that once again a researcher from the UK is among the winners of this year’s GRIP awards again highlighting the scientific excellence of the UK. Kidney disease is a serious, debilitating and increasingly common condition and Genzyme are proud to support the scientists dedicated to improving the care and quality of life of the many hundreds of thousands of patients with this disease.”

The ninth cycle of the GRIP awards will be launched during the American Society of Nephrology Renal Week in October 2009 in San Diego along with the announcement of the new topics for 2010.

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One of the world's leading biotechnology companies, Genzyme is dedicated to making a major positive impact on the lives of people with serious diseases. Since 1981, the company has grown from a small start-up to a diversified enterprise with more than 11,000 employees in locations spanning the globe and 2008 revenues of $4.6 billion.

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