Satellite Healthcare Announces 2008 Norman S. Coplon Extramural Grants : Grants Foster Next-Generation Kidney Disease Researchers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (Business Wire EON) September 22, 2008 -- These grants, named for Dr. Norman S. Coplon, the founder of Satellite Healthcare, are directed at young researchers in the relatively early stages of their careers. "These grants can be seen as seed money for talented young scientists who are building their reputations doing basic and clinical research in kidney disease," said Dr. John Moran, Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs for Satellite Healthcare and WellBound. "We want to motivate and help the best and brightest of young researchers to devote their time and energy to studying kidney disease, which affects 26 million Americans with another 20 million at risk of developing the disease."

"Funding for medical research in the US is at an all-time low, and young researchers are leaving at an alarming rate because the future is so discouraging," said Dr. William Mitch, Gordon A. Cain, Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and chair of the Satellite Research Scientific Advisory Board and grant selection committee. "Through these generous grants, Satellite is not only supporting innovation and new treatments but also is helping people remain in research, and that's our future. You can't overstate how important these grants are."

The 2008 Norman S. Coplon Extramural Grant recipients are:

Gabriela Garcia, M.D. Baylor College of Medicine

"Arrest of Kidney Disease Progression by A2A Adenosine Receptor Activation"

Yoshi Hall, M.D. University of Washington

"Disparities in end-stage renal disease among Asians and Pacific Islanders"

Susanne Nicholas, M.D. David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA

"Investigating Prevention and Mechanisms of Type 1 Diabetic Nephropathy"

Alan Pao, M.D. Stanford University

"Gamma-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone Signaling: Implications for Salt-Sensitive Hypertension and Chronic Kidney Disease"

Venkataraman Ramanathan, M.D. Baylor College of Medicine

"Biofilms in Hemodialysis Catheters"

Rajeev Rohatgi, M.D. Mount Sinai School of Medicine

"Mechanoregulation of Fibrosis-associated Protein Expression in Renal Tubular Epithelia"

Tarak Srivastava, M.D. University of Missouri, Kansas City

"Role of PGE² in Podocyte Biology: Implications for Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease"

Mark Unruh, M.D. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

"Sleep in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Kidney Disease"

Grant proposals submitted to Satellite Research, a division of Satellite Healthcare, are reviewed and approved by the independent Satellite Scientific Advisory Board. While research topics for the grants are not restricted to any one clinical area, applicants must focus on topics that exhibit scientific merit and potential for clinical application. The Coplon Grants allow for a maximum of $50,000 per year for a maximum of three years for each recipient.

About the Coplon Grants

The Norman S. Coplon Extramural Grant Program is one of the nation's largest private research endowments for research into chronic kidney diseases. Satellite Philanthropy awards these extramural grants to individuals and institutions engaged in promising kidney disease research in the United States and Canada. Approximately one-third of the awards are for bench (i.e., basic science) research, with the remaining two-thirds aimed at clinical or translational research that can be introduced into clinical practice today.

About Satellite Healthcare

Satellite Healthcare, Inc. is one of the nation's first and largest providers of dialysis services and kidney disease care. With its affiliated services Satellite WellBound, Satellite Dialysis, and Satellite Research, Satellite Healthcare provides early patient wellness education, personalized clinical services and a complete range of dialysis therapy choices. This comprehensive offering allows Satellite Healthcare to advance the standard of chronic kidney disease care so patients can achieve a better life.

For more information: www.satellitehealth.com or call 650.404.3600