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20 Years of the KRESCENT Program

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KRESCENT is Canada’s elite kidney health research training program – supporting the next generation of kidney health researchers for the past 20 years.

Since inception the program has trained over 102 trainees who have changed the way we understand and treat kidney disease, demonstrated by the over 5000 research publications generated by KRESCENT alumni.

The KRESCENT program continues to create opportunities and transform health research training. Ultimately, leading to more breakthroughs for patients.

KRESCENT cofounder and former Program Director, Dr. Kevin Burns, attributes the success of the program to two key choices:

  1. the focus on early career researchers, and

  2. the incorporation of interdisciplinary learning and collaboration.

Dr. Kevin Burns
Dr. Kevin Burns, cofounder and first Program Director of KRESCENT. By concentrating on early career researchers, KRESCENT was ‘starting where the engine begins’, explains Dr. Burns. He continues, “many of the people who started in KRESCENT are now senior investigators, so it keeps going and they become mentors and leaders”.

KRESCENT has and continues to kickstart the careers of its trainees, academically and professionally. It also strives to bring together interdisciplinary trainees, encourage collaborative learning, and bridge research gaps.

These efforts have led to a nation-wide network of collaborative and innovative kidney scientists, primed to become leaders that generate real change for the kidney community. As of 2024, almost 60% of KRESCENT alumni hold leadership positions across the country.

“The novelty of the program was to create a curriculum that trained people to appreciate all the other disciplines of kidney research across Canada and encouraged collaboration across these research pillars.” – Dr. Kevin Burns

Krescent leadership with Dr. Kevin Burns

Dr. Kevin Burns being celebrated with current KRESCENT leadership ((right to left) Dr. Adeera Levin, Dr. Mathieu Lemaire, and Dr. Sunny Hartwig).

2018 brought in a new era for the KRESCENT program: KRESCENT 2.0.

KRESCENT 2.0 expanded the program to reinvent the future of kidney health research training. It led to the development of new curriculum milestones, increased lived experience participation and most notably, new training opportunities with the KRESCENT Summer Studentship program.

"Over the past 20 years, the KRESCENT program has fulfilled the vision of its founders by creating not just a unique training program, but also a thriving community of Canadian kidney researchers who are actively advancing the field. As we look ahead, we are committed to ensuring this vital program continues to flourish and evolve." – Dr. Mathieu Lemaire, current Program Director, KRESCENT

Heading into the next 20 years, KRESCENT will continue to push the needle forward and improve kidney health for all Canadians.

Links to learn more:

The 2025 KRESCENT cohort.
The 2025 KRESCENT cohort.