Cumming School scientists receive national honour for excellence in kidney research

Drs. Brenda Hemmelgarn and Braden Manns named joint recipients of the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Medal of Research Excellence – a first for the foundation.

Individually, Drs. Brenda Hemmelgarn and Braden Manns have received recognition on numerous occasions for their research. Even as a collaborative duo, they are no strangers to the same types of accolades. Most recently, the Kidney Foundation of Canada (KFOC) added another award to their long list of achievements.

The KFOC’s Medal of Research Excellence is presented annually to a Canadian who is recognized nationally and internationally for excellence in kidney-related research. In 2017, for the first time in the history of the foundation, two people are receiving the medal, with Hemmelgarn and Manns being named joint recipients. 

The University of Calgary (UCalgary) is extremely proud of their award. "This recognition reflects the great work that Drs. Hemmelgarn and Manns do as a team as well as their individual accomplishments,” said Dr. Marcello Tonelli, Senior Associate Dean (Health Research), Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), and Associate Vice-President (Health Research), UCalgary. 

The team’s co-operative approach is what makes the dual award history making. “At The Kidney Foundation, we believe that collaboration is one of the keystones of success,” said Elisabeth Fowler, National Director of Research. “Drs. Hemmelgarn and Manns are amazing researchers who have had outstanding careers. They have been working together for many years and have demonstrated foresight and leadership that has had a major impact on patient priority setting and patient-oriented research in Canada. They have also worked together to achieve great collaborations and for this reason we are proud and delighted to give two medals for research excellence this year.”

Hemmelgarn, a nephrologist, is a professor in the departments of medicine and head of the department of community health sciences at the CSM.

As a member of both the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta and the O’Brien Institute for Public Health (OIPH), her research interests include chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, and using computerized data sources, including the Alberta Kidney Disease Network repository of laboratory data and Alberta Health administrative data. She is renowned as a considerate teacher and mentor.

Hemmelgarn is humbled by the recognition from the KFOC and receiving it jointly with Manns makes it more special. “It reaffirms why we do research - to improve care and outcomes for those who mean the most - our patients,” she says.  

Manns echoes her sentiments, saying being awarded the medal with Hemmelgarn, who is a friend and a close collaborator, is an honour. “We have worked together over the past 15 years, and this really is a recognition of the great team that we both work on." 

Manns is a professor in health economics and a nephrologist in the CSM’s departments of medicine and community health sciences. Like Hemmelgarn, he is a member of both the Libin Institute and the OIPH. 

While much of his research has been outside of the kidney area, examining the implications of patient-borne costs on health care and outcomes in chronic disease, and assessing the adequacy of care for Albertans with diabetes, Manns has also been instrumental in founding numerous kidney networks and interdisciplinary collaborations.

This recognition is also important to Alberta Health Services (AHS). Dr. Verna Yiu, President and CEO of AHS, says she is very proud to see the award acknowledge the doctors’ commitment to improving outcomes for people living with kidney disease both locally and nationally. “They are both incredible leaders who provide innovative research excellence in all that they do,” she said. 

Their collaboration has had a major impact on the translation of health care for patients with chronic kidney disease. They have both been involved in different administrative roles related to the optimal delivery of renal services in Alberta and are the principle organizers and innovators of a major renal epidemiologic centre, not only noted in Canada but throughout the world.

They will receive their awards this fall.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada established the Medal for Research Excellence in 1996 to honour Canadian researchers whose work is recognized by their peers for having improved the treatment and care of people living with kidney disease and related conditions.