A new renal research centre at Northern Care Alliance will honour the legacy of our former colleague Professor Donal O’Donoghue OBE and continue his work to improve diagnosis, care and treatment for kidney patients.
Professor O’Donoghue, a former National Clinical Director for kidney care, died in January 2021. He worked in Salford for more than 25 years, raising awareness of how common kidney disease is and making sure patients’ voices were always heard.
His work to modernise kidney care and his world-leading research made a huge difference to the lives of countless people and is the inspiration behind the new Donal O’Donoghue Renal Research Centre.
It will be led by Prof O’Donoghue’s friend and long-standing colleague Professor Phil Kalra, past Academic Vice President of the UK Renal Association and Chair of the UK Kidney Research Consortium, who will outline the plans for the centre at a launch event at Salford Royal on Wednesday 8 March (3-5.20pm).
Legacy
Prof Kalra said: “Donal’s legacy includes the research-active team that he helped build in Salford and the ideas and vision he had for improving the health of people with kidney disease. We are delighted to be building on his work, including his mission to reduce health inequalities in renal medicine and improving pathways of care for patients.”
Prof Donoghue’s wife Marie will be among the speakers at the launch, along with Sandra Currie, Chief Executive of Kidney Research UK, Professor Paul Cockwell, President of the UK Kidney Association and Professor John Feehally, Consultant Nephrologist, University Hospitals of Leicester, who like Donal was also a past President of the UK Renal Association.
Professor Smeeta Sinha, renal physician at Salford Royal, has followed in Prof Donoghue’s footsteps to become National Clinical Director and will also give a presentation. In addition, there will be a focus on collaborative working and on research led by non-medical colleagues, such as nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals. Renal patient ambassador Hilaria Asumu will highlight the importance of addressing health inequalities.
If you would like to attend, please register through this link Donal O’Donoghue Renal Research Centre Opening Event Tickets, Wed 8 Mar 2023 at 15:00 | Eventbrite