ROCKVILLE, Md.—The American Kidney Fund announced yesterday that Dr. Katherine Lynch, Dr. Sagar Nigwekar and Dr. Margaret Yu are the 2012 Clinical Scientist in Nephrology (CSN) Fellows.

The CSN program strives to improve the quality of care provided to kidney patients and promotes clinical research in nephrology. It enhances the training of nephrologists who want to pursue an academic career and whose primary professional commitment is to scholarship in the provision of patient care.

“Since the creation of the Clinical Scientist in Nephrology fellowship in 1988, the American Kidney Fund has sponsored 33 clinicians with one overarching goal: improving the care and treatment of patients with kidney disease,” said LaVarne A. Burton, president and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. “We believe the work of Dr. Nigwekar, Dr. Lynch, and Dr. Yu will have broad application in care for kidney patients and the prevention of chronic diseases.”

Dr. Sagar Nigwekar, who was awarded the American Kidney Fund-Sanofi Clinical Scientist in Nephrology Fellowship, is a clinical and research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Nigwekar’s research will examine Calciphylaxis: Role of Vitamin D Analogues and Evaluation of Serum Biomarker. “I believe that my proposed research will improve the clinicians’ abilities in terms of prevention and diagnosis of calciphylaxis and will guide them in terms of use of vitamin D analogues in end stage renal disease patients,” said Nigwekar. Financial support for this CSN Fellow has been provided by Sanofi.

Dr. Margaret Yu, who was awarded the American Kidney Fund-Sanofi Clinical Scientist in Nephrology Fellowship, is a nephrology fellow at the University of Washington. Dr. Yu’s research will examine the Gender Differences in Chronic Kidney Disease Prevalence, Risk Factors and Progression in an Outpatient Diabetic Population. “As I look forward, I envision myself combining investigational, clinical and educational responsibilities as a scientist at an academic institution,” said Yu. “My long-term research goal is to reduce health disparities in chronic kidney disease.” Financial support for this CSN Fellow has been provided by Sanofi.

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