Nephrology research receives $3M funding

Montreal, QC – A new research chair partnership has been announced by McMaster University, St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Amgen Canada.

$3 million funding in basic science research from the Canadian division of Amgen, a biotech company that does research in human therapeutics, will result in the establishment of the Amgen Canada chair in nephrology.

Recruitment initiatives for the inaugural holder of the Amgen Canada Chair in Nephrology have begun, with the goal of securing an internationally renowned researcher for the position by the summer of 2007.

“Each day, as many as 14 Canadians learn their kidneys have failed and over 17,000 Canadians are currently on dialysis,” says Dr David Russell, associate professor in the department of medicine at McMaster University and director of the division of nephrology at St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. “St Joseph’s and the division of nephrology are delighted to join Amgen Canada and McMaster University in creating a research chair that will combine our expertise in clinical and basic research with Amgen’s outstanding record as a biotechnology company dedicated to helping people fight serious illness.”