With Gratitude to Robert M. and Elaine J. Collins

With Gratitude On behalf of the University of Colorado Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, thank you for establishing the Robert M. and Elaine J. Collins Endowment in Nephrology.

Our longstanding partnership, which spans more than two decades, has brought hope to many patients with kidney disease.

With the support of philanthropic partners like you, the Division is a national leader in nephrology. Together, we share a strong dedication to creating brighter futures for our communities. At CU Anschutz, we fulfill this promise by attracting and retaining top talent, such as Dr. Katharina Hopp, whose work you help to advance. I hope you take pride in the many accomplishments noted in this report, knowing that your philanthropic investments have helped us accelerate discoveries for kidney disease research.

We have an ambitious vision to become one of the top kidney research centers in the country; a center uniquely positioned with infrastructure capable of translating scientific discoveries into improved clinical outcomes for patients with kidney disease. The Collins Endowment provides essential support to drive important research forward and helps promote the national prominence of the Division of Nephrology. We would not be where we are today without you.

As we look to the future, the Division will expand into artificial intelligence to predict better care for glomerular disorders, polycystic kidney disease and chronic kidney disease. These new computational methodologies will help us better understand the mechanism of different causes of kidney disease, potentially opening the door to targeted novel therapeutics to slow down the progression of the disease.

We are grateful that the forward momentum you have helped us build will continue to grow.

With you by our side, the possibilities are limitless.

Sincerely,

Michel Chonchol, MD Professor and Division Chief Mats Wahlstrom Endowed Chair in Nephrology Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension

MILESTONES

Made Possible by You

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$14M in federal funding

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xciting new discoveries in E kidney disease research

Awarded more than

The Division of Nephrology was among the top three divisions in the Department of Medicine to receive federal funding. Thanks in large part to the Collins Endowment’s ongoing support of research initiatives in the Renal Division, we continue to receive numerous proposals from the National Institute of Health and further increase our prestige on the national stage.

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In looking at chronic systemic inflammation in patients requiring dialysis, we tested a first-ever anti-inflammatory therapy that blocks inflammatory proteins like interleukin-6.

The molecule was very effective at blocking interleukin-6 and improving comorbidities seen in dialysis patients like anemia and malnutrition.

We plan to launch a clinical trial testing this novel treatment to examine the effects on cardiovascular events and mortality in patients receiving dialysis.

This hire was made possible by the Collins Endowment and will have a significant impact in chronic kidney disease (CKD) discoveries as Dr. Brunt has unique qualifications in both animal and human studies.

Focusing on vascular disease in CKD, Dr. Blunt will examine novel treatments for kidney disease progression that she will initially try in animal models and then translate to patients.

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We also made groundbreaking progress in polycystic kidney disease by demonstrating in animal models and humans the effects of dietary caloric restriction on the progression of this disease. These discoveries have been significant as initial results suggest that dietary manipulations can be more effective than FDA approved treatment for this disease state.

Polycystic Kidney Disease Cysts

Healthy Kidney

I nvestments in top talent with the recruitment of Dr. Vienna Brunt

Continued support for the next

generation of nephrology investigators

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our support is key to advancing the Y careers of scientists in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension like Dr. Kristen Nowak, who was awarded two large grants this year and was recognized by the Department of Medicine as a top rising star. These incredible accomplishments by Dr. Nowak are due in large part to the support received by the Collins Endowment.

ore collaboration with colleagues M in pediatric nephrology hanks to the Collins Endowment, we have initiated T a program to train Medicine-Pediatrics Nephrology Fellows over a four-year period in adult and pediatric nephrology. This unique opportunity will create clinics of transition of care as pediatric patients grow into adulthood and transition to a physician who has known them for most of their lives.

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xpansion of the basic science E laboratories on the 7th floor of Research Complex-2

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oubled the number of D faculty members

Due to the incredible amount of funding the Division of Nephrology has received, we secured additional space in the CU School of Medicine.

The Collins Endowment will provide additional equipment for this new space that will improve the throughput of our basic science laboratories.

I n the last 10 years, the Division of Nephrology has surpassed 60 physicians and scientists.

60

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physicians + scientists in 10 years

Expansion of hemodialysis clinics

Continued support for the Collins Lectureship Series

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ecause of you, we can bring B prominent leaders to campus and provide continuous education to faculty and fellows in the Renal Division. Dr. Deidra Crews from Johns Hopkins University will serve as the 2022 Collins professor.

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The Division of Nephrology serves five dialysis units in the Denver metro area and is excited to expand operations in Longmont and Castle Rock, Colorado.

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dialysis units in Denver

I nitiated construction of the Vascular Access Center with Fresenius Kidney Care The Vascular Access Center is a joint venture among the Department of Surgery, the Department of Radiology and the Division of Nephrology to improve the care of vascular access in patients requiring chronic hemodialysis. Located in Lowry, Colorado, the Center will open in July 2023.

Your Support Fuels Progress Because of your philanthropic support, our physician-scientists and researchers are making valuable discoveries to better understand kidney disease and improve care for patients. Katharina Hopp, PhD, is just one of the many individuals who have benefited from your generosity.

Dr. Hopp is an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, where her lab studies the functional role of immune cells on polycystic kidney disease (PKD) progression. She is researching the role of T cells in PKD and their interplay with other immune cells and the cystic epithelium. Dr. Hopp has made significant progress in understanding the impact of the immune system on cyst initiation and progression. These studies will provide novel insights into the mechanisms of PKD and give rise to new therapeutic approaches for this disease, which is the 4th most common cause of dialysis.

In 2021, Dr. Hopp was selected for the CU Department of Medicine’s (DOM) Early Career Scholar Program, one of the most prestigious awards given by the DOM to junior scientists. She will use this award to investigate how dysregulated metabolism impacts immune cell function in the setting of PKD. Dr. Hopp will utilize cell type specific profiling technologies, genetic mouse models and preclinical studies to outline how the metabolic demands of the cystic kidney epithelium impact the surrounding immune cells and their role in regulating cyst growth.

“ The Robert M. and Elaine J. Collins Endowment in Nephrology has provided a unique opportunity to explore new mechanisms of kidney function decline in polycystic kidney disease. The support from the Collins Endowment has allowed me to grow my laboratory and strengthen my research career. Thanks to your generosity, I can now pursue life-changing research that will make a positive impact on patients in the clinic.”

Katharina Hopp, PhD Assistant Professor, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension

Thank You Your generosity makes a meaningful difference today as we look to a brighter future for those living with kidney disease. We are grateful for your commitment and dedication in supporting the growth and trajectory of the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension. We look forward to our continued partnership in the years ahead.