International collaboration
1.Exceptional contributions from Professors Vin-Cent Wu and Chiu-Ching Huang have been recognized by Stanford University as one of the top 2% scientists from the years 2020 to 2023. Dr. Wu have received several esteemed awards and honors in recognition for his exceptional research. contributions. Both of professors are current national PI for international pharmacy Chinoo Therapeutics U.S.,Inc and KBP Biosciences.
2.Professor VinCent Wu is collaborating with Chinook Therapeutics U.S., Inc. on a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Atrasentan in patients with IgA nephropathy at risk of gradual kidney function loss (ALIGN trial, NCT04573478). This is a multinational, multicenter study focused on IgA nephropathy. Atrasentan is a potent antagonist of endothelin receptor A and has been extensively studied as a once-daily treatment for diabetic kidney disease in addition to optimal-dose renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors. IgA nephropathy shares similar disease characteristics with diabetic kidney disease, and the result from ALIGN trial is highly expected
3.Professor VinCent Wu is collaborating with KBP Biosciences in China on a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of KBP-5074 (a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist) in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and moderate to severe (Stage 3b/4) chronic kidney disease. (NCT04968184) Professor Wu serves as the National leader. This trial is currently ongoing and the trial was initiated at 21 clinical centers in the United States. The trial is aim to examine the antihypertensive effect of KBP-5074 and safety profile. Given the success in the phase 2 trial, the result from this trial is highly expected.
Economic impact
Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) is a diagnostic tool used outside centralized laboratories, such as hospitals, emergency rooms, clinics, or even at home. The primary advantage of POCT is its ability to provide rapid test results, enabling early treatment. Other benefits associated with POCT include reducing the sample handling process and requiring smaller sample volumes for testing. Due to its convenience, a growing number of proteins or related macromolecules are being identified as potential targets for clinical disease diagnosis using POCT. CAKs have developed an early acute kidney injury (AKI) POCT system can provide real-time AKI results without the need to wait for central laboratory results by Professors Yung-Chang Chen and Chih-Hsiang Chang.
Considering the rapid changes in the condition of AKI patients, timely test results are crucial for clinical practice. Therefore, developing rapid testing methods for biomarkers of AKI is an area of future research.
Social effect
(1) We integrate AKD care with already existed “National Health Insurance Pre-End Stage Renal Disease (pre-ESRD) Patient Care and Education Program” with our study “Multidisciplinary post-acute kidney injury study ". Such collaboration would provide holistic care including education, nutritionist, pharmacist for individualized guidance. Through multi-faceted disease management, emphasizing the monitoring of changes in renal function and proteinuria, patients with acute kidney disease and their families can find their own healthy living style.
(2) There is a significant difference in the medical care received by kidney disease patients in Taiwan. Only 1% of medical facilities across the country offer peritoneal dialysis (PD) care services. The success of PD depends on functional and timely catheter implantation. Historically, the catheter had to be placed in the operating room using general anesthesia, either through traditional abdominal surgery or laparoscopic methods. Vice Dean Che-Yi Chou from Asia University Hospital successfully routinely perform percutaneous catheter placement technique at bedside. This rapid bedside catheter placement enables patients to receive dialysis treatment easily.
Other major contribution of CAK
(1)CAKs hosted the "Taiwan Acute Kidney Injury Review Course" with the help from the Taiwan Society of Nephrology. The Review Course was an educational and educational networking platform for kidney disease professionals. This event took place on June 10, 2023, at the Da Vinci Meeting Space in Taipei.
(2)Chang Gung Medical Database: The Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD) is a comprehensive repository that collects and stores data from seven hospitals within the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital system. This includes clinical epidemiological data, laboratory data, inpatient and outpatient records, emergency medical records, pathology reports, and disease category data. It accounts for approximately one-ninth of the National Health Insurance data. This database provides rich and comprehensive medical information that has undergone de-identification. Our alliance collaborates with the Chang Gung Big Data Center and Clinical Trial Center, providing pharmaceutical partners with real-world insights and a basis for further development.
(3)Dr. VinCent Wu, member of CAKs is awarded the 2023 Professor Wan-Yu Chen Research Award by the Taiwan Society of Nephrology. In recent years, this award has come to symbolize a lifetime achievement in the field of nephrology in Taiwan.
