> Objectives and Mission Statement

The goal of University Kidney Disease Research Associates (“UKDRA”) is to support basic and clinical research in kidney disease and hypertension performed primarily, but not exclusively, at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.  UKDRA has determined to establish in Los Angeles in association with the Keck School of Medicine a leading center for research relating to the causes, treatment and prevention of kidney disease, which we are tentatively calling the Southern California Kidney Institute (the “Institute”).

As the first step in creating the Institute, UKDRA is dedicated to establishing a proteomic research center to unravel the mechanisms of kidney disease in the following areas:

1. Study cellular abnormalities at the molecular levels in kidney disease and identify measures to ameliorate or prevent them.

2. Study mechanisms of glomerular diseases (such as focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS), or membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis) secondary to viral infections, such as hepatitis, parvovirus, and HIV.

3. Study fundamental mechanisms of progression of kidney disease, and preventive measures.

4. Find better modalities of diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in kidney disease.

5. Study secondary damage of kidney disease to the cardiovascular system, and preventive measures based on vitamin and anti-oxidant supplements.

6. Study bone disease associated with chronic kidney disease.

7. Study the benefits or disadvantages of different schedules and modalities of dialysis treatments.

UKDRA will seek applications for these areas of research.  Projects will be properly peer-reviewed by UKDRA's Medical Scientific Advisory Board and grants allocated annually by UKDRA's Board of Directors.