AUSiMED is proud to share exciting progress from its international Paediatric Kidney Disease Project—an innovative research collaboration between two world-leading scientists, Dr Alex Combes (Monash University, Australia) and Dr Oded Volovelsky (Hadassah–Hebrew University Medical Center, Israel).
The project aims to develop the world’s first therapy to prolong kidney development in premature babies—offering hope of protecting these vulnerable infants from developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) later in life.
The now-completed Stage 1 of the project has delivered significant scientific breakthroughs, revealing how premature birth disrupts kidney development and identifying new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Key Discoveries from Stage 1:
- Premature birth has lasting impacts on kidney development and function that persist into adulthood.
- It disrupts normal kidney structure, compromising long-term organ function.
- It activates cellular stress pathways that hinder the development of kidney stem cells.
- It alters critical signaling pathways that maintain nephron progenitor cells.
With these findings in hand, the project now moves into Stage 2, which will test and refine a novel therapeutic strategy in a mouse model. If successful, this will lay the foundation for future human clinical trials.
Why This Matters:
- Premature babies could be protected from developing CKD as adults.
- Early interventions could be introduced through kidney function monitoring in those born prematurely.
- Reducing the incidence of CKD would significantly ease the financial and health burden on global healthcare systems.
This collaboration exemplifies the power of science without borders—leveraging Australian and Israeli expertise to tackle a global health challenge.
AUSiMED gratefully acknowledges the generous support of foundations and families and of Hadassah Australia who have helped to make this life-saving research possible.
Together, we are investing in a healthier future for the world’s most vulnerable infants.
For more information on AUSiMED’s programs and initiatives, please contact Dr. Karen Teshuva at karen@ausimed.org.