Brenner lectureship: Professor Catherine Godson recognised as distinguished scholar by American Society of Nephrology
Posted 3 November 2022
At the world’s premier nephrology meeting (opens in a new window)Professor Catherine Godson will delivery the annual Brenner lectureship as recognition for her outstanding impact on kidney disease research.
The (opens in a new window)American Society of Nephrology has recognised the academic from the UCD School Of Medicine as a distinguished scholar as a part of its annual Kidney Week, which sees thousands of clinicians and investigators gather to discuss the field of nephrology.
Professor Godson will share insights into her leading collaborative research on diabetic kidney disease, which has successfully identified several novel mediators of progression and potential regression in this condition.
On being awarded the Brenner Lectureship, Professor Godson said: “I am really delighted to receive this honour. Dr Barry Brenner was the parent of contemporary nephrology and his achievements in translating painstaking basic research to enhanced patient care are truly impactful.
“This award recognises our achievements, and those of our collaborators including Professor Pat Guiry and his team in UCD School of Chemistry, Professors Mark Cooper and Phil Kantharidis at Monash University Melbourne - with whom we work very closely, and leading researchers at Queen University Belfast, Harvard University and MIT.”
Adding: “It is very timely that our work from UCD Conway Institute is honoured almost exactly 20 years since the institute opened its doors. This programme of research started at laboratories in the Mater Hospital and really gained momentum in UCD Conway, through improved access to leading technologies and interdisciplinary teams.
“Conway is part of the enduring legacy of Atlantic Philanthropies and public funding. The overarching ambition was to develop world class, internationally competitive research, and this award is evidence of realising that opportunity."
A Full Professor of Molecular Medicine at University College Dublin, Professor Godson has received numerous honours for her research, including the Women in Science award of the International Association of Inflammation Societies, the Robert Graves Lecture and Medal 2021 of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, and the outstanding achievement award of the International Eicosanoid Research Foundation 2022.
She is the Director of the UCD Diabetes Complications Research Centre, and a Visiting Professor at the Diabetes Centre of Monash University in Melbourne.
A graduate of UCD, Professor Godson completed fellowships in the University of Geneva and the University of California San Diego, before joining the faculty of Harvard University and later returning to Ireland.
She has served on the Health Research Board of Ireland, the European Medical Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust's Physiological Sciences Committee; and serves as Secretary for Science of the Royal Irish Academy, is a trustee of Barts Charity, London, on the Board of the Irish Research Council and was recently appointed a Non Executive Director, Kerry Group.
Professor Godson leads a group of investigators focusing on innate immunity and chronic complications of diabetes.
They have identified several novel therapeutic targets, susceptibility genes, and potential modulators of disease. The group has also made noteworthy progress toward understanding inflammatory processes in these contexts.
“The progress of our work reflects the funding received from Science Foundation Ireland and the Health Research Board over two decades, and more recently, strategic research awards from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) New York and generous support from the UCD Foundation,” she said.
“We now seek to further develop on these findings by commercial development of some of the technologies through a UCD spinout company, Attenuate Therapeutics.”
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations (with materials from Emma Loughney, UCD Research and Innovation)
