EKF collaborator to deliver Kelly West Lecture at ADA 2014

EKF Diagnostics, the global diagnostics company, today highlights that the lead scientist working in collaboration with its Kidney Biomarker team to develop tests for progressive Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) will receive the 2014 Kelly West Award in Epidemiology at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 74th Scientific Sessions.

Dr. Andrzej Krolewski, MD, PhD, Head of Section on Genetics and Epidemiology at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, receives this eminent award for his significant contribution to diabetes epidemiology.

At the ADA 74th Scientific Sessions (13- 17 June 2014, San Francisco), Dr. Krolewski will also deliver the Kelly West Award lecture, ‘Time to Retire ‘Microalbuminuria’: Early, Progressive Renal Decline is the New Paradigm.’ “I am very pleased that I was selected to give the Kelly West Lecture,” said Dr. Krolewski. “This lecture will allow me to discuss our important discoveries regarding diabetic kidney disease. Joslin is one of the best places to conduct this epidemiological research.”

Julian Baines, CEO of EKF Diagnostics, commented: “We offer our wholehearted congratulations to Dr. Andrzej Krolewski on receiving the Kelly West Award, one of the ADA’s highest scientific awards. We look forward to continuing our partnership with him and his team as they develop new models for managing Diabetic Kidney Disease and, in particular, the role of biomarkers such as sTNFR1.”

On Stand 2321 at the ADA 74th Science Sessions, EKF Diagnostics will exhibit the first of its diagnostic tests for progressive DKD based on the sTNFR1 biomarker, originally identified by Dr. Krolewski as a strong predictor of ESRD.

Studies performed in multiple US and European centers have shown that sTNFR1 outperforms current clinical tests in identifying high-risk patients. EKF’s sTNFR1 test kit is an easy-to-use ELISA-based assay requiring standard laboratory equipment and just 50 µL of blood serum or plasma. The standard assay format means the test requires minimal training.