Ying (Maggie) Chen MD, PhD and Andrew Malone MD are recipients of the inaugural Translational Innovation Grant. Their proposal entitled, “Targeting Podocyte Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Alport Syndrome,” aims to identify pathogenic mutations in collagen genes that lead to Alport’s syndrome. They will utilize whole-exome sequencing to identify patients with mutations, in collaboration with the Genome Technology Access Center, which provides a full array of sequencing and bioinformatic services to members of the Washington University community. The project also takes advantage of the Division of Nephrology Kidney Translational Research Core, directed by Sanjay Jain MD, PhD.
Using internal funds, the Translational Innovation Grant brings together a clinician and basic scientist from within the Division of Nephrology to jointly pursue a collaborative project with translational potential.