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Dr. Amit Garg

2021 Medal for Research Excellence
Western University
“Dr. Garg is an outstanding example of research leadership in Canada. His work with KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) helped establish the definitive international clinical practice guidelines in living kidney donation and stands as just one of his many notable achievements” 
– Dr. Nicolas Fernandez, patient lead and co-chair of The Kidney Foundation’s Research Council

The Kidney Foundation was pleased to announce Dr. Amit Garg as the recipient of the 2021 Medal for Research Excellence.

Dr. Garg is Professor of Medicine - Division of Nephrology and of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University in London, Ontario. He is medical director of the living kidney donor program at the London Health Sciences Centre and is a past president of the Canadian Society of Nephrology. He serves as the ICES Provincial Kidney, Dialysis and Transplantation Program Lead and the Provincial Medical Lead, Access to Kidney Transplantation for the Ontario Renal Network. He is a Scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute and at ICES, and an Associate Scientist at the Population Health Research Institute.

Characterized by his peers as a world-class clinical and health services investigator in kidney, dialysis and transplantation medicine, Dr. Garg feels most fortunate to be able to contribute in this way and is grateful to be supported and surrounded by so many brilliant people, both in the workplace and at home. This includes two decades of support from The Kidney Foundation of Canada which started with a post-graduate fellowship in 2001. Working in teams, he has 600 published articles with more than 1,000 different authors from over 50 international centres.

The research has appeared in top medical journals and in the lay press including CTV, Global News and the New York Times. It has been widely acknowledged for helping understand how different treatments alter the risk of acute kidney injury from elective surgery, improving the practice and safety of living kidney donation, and reducing adverse events from prescription medications. Additionally, the research has made it easier for fellow researchers and clinicians to systematically search for relevant kidney-related content in large bibliographic databases thanks to the development of specialized filters.

Dr. Garg has mentored and trained future kidney researchers. He has been the primary research supervisor to over 70 trainees at Western University from who he has learned a great deal. He is also grateful to work with a team of highly qualified research administrators, coordinators, data managers, epidemiologists and statisticians in London, Ontario.