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Elizabeth Myles, National Executive Director at The Kidney Foundation of Canada, and Dr. John Chan, Chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology and Nephrology at the Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and Professor of Medicine [Photo courtesy of CHUM]

Colleagues, family and friends came together this week to celebrate the tremendous achievements of Dr. John Chan, who is this year’s recipient of The Kidney Foundation Medal for Research Excellence.

The award, announced in May, was celebrated during an October 23 reception in Dr. Chan’s honour. Dr. Chan is Chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology and Nephrology at the Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and a Professor of Medicine at the university.

“I am both surprised and deeply grateful for this recognition. It highlights the many years of hard work my team and I have dedicated to kidney research,” Dr. Chan said. He emphasizes that by acknowledging the career of a basic science researcher, this year’s award also underscores the vital role of basic science in advancing our understanding of kidney disease.

“I deeply appreciate the long-standing support I’ve received from The Kidney Foundation. Their involvement has been central to the development and success of my research,” said Dr. Chan. “If you ask me what The Kidney Foundation means to me, I would say it has provided the invaluable support needed to make significant strides in kidney research. The Foundation has always supported the initiation of new research projects, allowing researchers like myself to discover new solutions for kidney disease. For that, I would like to extend my deepest thanks.”

Elizabeth Myles, National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada said, “The Kidney Foundation of Canada is pleased to present the medal for research excellence to Dr Chan. His lifetime of discovery accentuates the importance of recognizing the contributions that fundamental science can make, which can translate to real quantifiable changes for our patients and community."

Currently, Dr. Chan and his colleagues are exploring how a protein called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) affects the parts of the kidney involved in absorbing nutrients and removing waste from blood. Over-activation of SGLT2 by the kidney renin-angiotensin system leads to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), a condition that can rapidly become serious.

SGLT2 inhibitors, drugs which act on these proteins, represent a new class of medications being used in kidney disease. This again highlights the connection between the importance of understanding the fundamental aspects of kidney function, and the formulation of new treatment options for patients.

“I’d like to congratulate Dr. Chan on this well-deserved award which celebrates a remarkable and impactful research career. Dr. Chan is being recognized for taking on key leadership and mentorship roles in kidney research nationally and internationally,” said Dr. Vincent Poitout, CHUM Research and Innovation Director. “Over the past decade, he and his team have demonstrated that overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system leads to kidney damage and the progression of diabetes. This breakthrough demonstrates the importance of basic science in understanding the disease and developing new treatments for patients. We are honoured to have him on our research team.”