Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is considered to be one of the most fatal genetic diseases that affects more then 500,000 people in the United States. This disease, caused by a mutation in certain genes, causes the growth of cysts on the kidneys, which lead to kidney enlargement and failure. The are currently no treatments to permanently cure or halt the progression of this disease. Current solutions for PKD are receiving either a kidney transplant or staying on dialysis for the rest of ones life, neither of which are ideal situations.
Thomas Weimbs at the University of California, Santa Barbara is considered to be an expert in this disease and has spent many years studying it. With the help of a $600,000 award from the Lillian Goldman Charitable Trust of New York, Dr. Weimbs and his team will continue to research new treatments for PKD.
A normal kidney (left) versus kidney with Polycystic kidney disease (right). (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
“My lab is very focused on understanding the mechanisms that are most critical for the development of the thousands of cysts that eventually destroy both kidneys in PKD patients," explained Weimbs. "We are driven by the motivation to develop a feasible therapy to at least slow disease progression and are working on several highly promising approaches in parallel. Philanthropic, targeted funding such as this can make a huge difference in speeding up the progress of research.”
Through understanding how different mechanisms in the body contribute to the creation of these cysts which ultimately help the disease progress, Dr. Weimbs and his team hope to be able to develop new strategies to fight these mechanisms and help treat PKD. The recent award to the research team will be beneficial in helping this study progress.
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Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara are continuously making contributions to the life sciences and receiving funding to help support lab projects. UCSB has many life science research departments busily performing new research, including:
- Anthropology
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering
- Cellular Biology
- Chemistry
- Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology
- Neuroscience
Lab supply companies interested in marketing products to researchers in the Santa Barbara marketplace are encouraged to participate in the upcoming 6th Annual BioResearch Product Faire™ Event at UCSB on March 31, 2015. Participating in this event gives sales reps and supply companies the opportunity to:
- Market lab supplies directly to life science researchers on-campus.
- Display, demonstrate, and exhibit lab products.
- Answer questions about lab equipment and help inform researchers about why their lab tools are the best.
- Get greater brand awareness.
- Get exposure and network in an expanding research marketplace.
Visit the link below to learn more about participating in this event and to get more funding information about UCSB.
While in the Southern California area, consider participating in these other marketing events:
University of California, Los Angeles 35th Semiannual Biotechnology Vendor Showcase™ Event - April 2, 2015
University of Southern California 11th Semiannual BioResearch Product Faire™ Event - April 3, 2015