Awardees

Supervisors: Dr. Rhian Touyz and Dr. Richard Hébert
Award: KRESCENT Fellowship
Institution: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Year: 2009-2012

Dr. Mona Sedeek will carry out her post-doctoral research project under the supervision of Dr. Rhian Touyz and Dr. Richard Hébert at the Kidney Research Centre, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of kidney disease. Processes underlying this mechanism are unclear, but increased production of derivatives of oxygen called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) may be important. These molecules are toxic and cause damage to many tissues, including the kidney. Many enzymes produce reactive oxygen species, including a special protein found in the kidney called Nox4. Dr. Sedeek will try to determine the effects of diabetes on the expression and activity of Nox4, which may prove to be a therapeutic target in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.