KRESCENT Program

In 2004, The Kidney Foundation of Canada (KFOC) and the Canadian Society of Nephrology (CSN) joined forces to create and launch an exciting new research initiative — the Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training (KRESCENT) program.

The KRESCENT Program aims at enhancing kidney research capacity in Canada and becoming the principal kidney scientist training program in the country, therefore raising the number of experts practicing in this area. Created in response to the needs identified at the Horizons 2000+ Conference, which brought together key stakeholders in renal research, the KRESCENT Program will enrich the training and mentorship of outstanding investigators who will play a leading role in the prevention of end-stage renal disease and improving the health of Canadians affected by kidney disease. The unique aspects of the KRESCENT Program include extended salary support, ongoing mentorship and career development support, a core curriculum spanning multiple disciplines and research themes, and enhanced opportunities for the development of translational research projects and research networks.

KRESCENT is supported by donations from the Branches of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, a special contribution from the membership of the Canadian Society of Nephrology. It also receives donations and funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research — Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD), which has been complemented by the generous financial support of AMGEN, Baxter Corporation, Merck Frosst Canada Ltd., Ortho Biotech, Shire BioChem Inc., and other private donors.

Merck Frosst is a Patron (major donor) of the KRESCENT Program, contributing $300,000 over the next three years. A KRESCENT / Merck Frosst Fellowship New Investigative Award has also been created and was awarded for the first time at the end of May 2005 in Calgary during the CSN Annual Conference. Click here for more information.

For further information on the KRESCENT program, please visit http://kidney.ca/Krescent/index.asp or contact Mr. Wim Wolfs, Research Manager, The Kidney Foundation of Canada at research@kidney.ca or 514 369-4806 ext. 225.