Johns Hopkins O'Brien Center to Advance Kidney Health

ABSTRACT The overarching goal of the Johns Hopkins O’Brien Center to Advance Kidney Health (JHOC) is to harness the collective expertise of basic, clinical and translational researchers at Johns Hopkins to serve as a national resource for investigators addressing the fundamental question of: what are the underlying mechanisms responsible for kidney diseases and how can they be mitigated? We will leverage the strengths and existing infrastructure of the Johns Hopkins Division of Nephrology and the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research. JHOC will include; 3 integrated cores (Administrative, Biomedical Resource and Resource Development); an Executive Committee; an Internal Advisory Committee, and a Community Advisory Board. Together, we will (1) provide an innovative portfolio of research services, resources, and tools for investigators to understand and ameliorate the burden of kidney disease; (2) develop new and refine existing resources as part of a dynamic incubator space for the conduct of basic and clinical research relevant to advancing kidney health; (3) transfer mature resources to the Biomedical Resource Core to be shared with the community; (4) plan and execute an annual Summer Student Enrichment Program which leverages a long- standing partnership with a Johns Hopkins program; (5) foster the careers of early-stage investigators by promoting multi-disciplinary and cross-sector collaboration that will attract investigators from fields not traditionally involved in kidney research; and (6) collaborate with the National Coordinating Center to prioritize external requests for resources and enhance national outreach. JHOC will support investigators conducting pre- clinical (basic), clinical or population health research addressing kidney disease, and will make recommendations to inform strategies, interventions, and approaches aimed at advancing kidney health.