UKRO Remembers Ron Taubman
UKRO mourns the loss of our dear friend and former board member and Chief Financial Officer, Ronald Taubman, who passed away on September 10, 2019 at the age of 74. Ron was a kind, courageous, special man with a generous heart. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at a young age and overcame many physical setbacks throughout his life with positivity and fierce determination. A three-time kidney transplant recipient, he was a tireless advocate for organ donation awareness and helped many grateful individuals navigate the complex transplantation process. Like so many others who came into contact with Ron, we will never forget all he did for us. He was a dedicated supporter of UKRO, sharing his time, talents, resources, great ideas, and endless enthusiasm. His passion for finding a cure for kidney disease was Ron’s way of helping men, women, and children in need, including his own daughter, who developed Type 1 diabetes when she was 16.
Ron was a long-time member of Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO) Ventura County West Valley Chapter and served as a board member and chapter president. He was elected to the international board of directors of TRIO, Inc., as a member at large and was later elected vice president, member of the executive committee, and chairman of the Development (Fundraising) Committee of TRIO, Inc. His responsibilities encompassed all TRIO chapters in the United States, Italy, Japan, and Australia.
Ron was involved with many nonprofit organizations over the years, serving as a committee member for the Southern California Renal Disease Council (ESRD Network 18); a Donate Life Ambassador for OneLegacy (the Southern California organ procurement organization); a peer counselor at dialysis centers in Los Angeles for the National Institute of Transplantation; and Region 5 Representative of the OPTN/UNOS Pancreas Committee from July. He volunteered on many of the development committees of these nonprofits, applying for financial support from both governmental and private sources.
Ron was a truly remarkable human being and we will miss him very much. We extend our deepest condolences to his loving wife of 50 years, Arden, their two daughters, Stephanie and Jennifer, their beloved grandchildren, and all who knew and loved him.
About UKRO and the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center
UKRO is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit charity founded in 2002 by entertainment lawyer Kenneth Kleinberg with the help of Dr. Vito M. Campese, then Professor and Chief of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Our mission is fundraising to support medical research and education related to the causes, treatment, and eradication of all forms of kidney disease.
Since 2002, UKRO has raised significant dollars to fund cutting-edge research at the earliest stage of development, in addition to educational symposia and fellowships. Our special project grants have been awarded to nationally recognized experts from interdisciplinary labs at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, City of Hope, and UCLA.
We believe that collaboration among scientists working in a variety of fields is the key to understanding chronic kidney disease, discovering improved therapies, and finding a much-needed cure. To that end, in September 2012, UKRO entered into an agreement with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California to establish what we envision as a premier center nationally for kidney research—the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center (KRC). We have made an initial $3.5 million pledge to support the establishment of the KRC, which officially opened in 2015. UKRO’s gift will be matched by equivalent contributions from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Led by Kenneth Hallows, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.S.N., the research team at the KRC is exploring kidney regeneration and stem cell therapies, acute kidney injury, hypertension, polycystic kidney disease, acid regulation, kidney cancer, and more.
Keck School of Medicine of USC Hosts World Kidney Day Health Fair
Bravo to the USC School of Pharmacy, members of KDSAP (Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program), the Internal Medicine Residency Program and the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at the Keck School of Medicine, and all involved in the 2nd Annual World Kidney Day Health Fair, which took place on…
USC Researchers Use Nanoparticles to Target Kidneys
In an exciting cross-collaboration, researchers from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the Keck School of Medicine have created tiny nanoparticles, known as micelles, to target diseased kidney cells. Made with an ingenious kidney-targeting peptide, these biocompatible and biodegradable micelles can pass into the kidney and remain there, with…
Kidney Research Center Welcomes Eugene Lin
This month the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center (KRC) welcomed Eugene Lin, M.D., M.S., to the team. Dr. Lin is an Assistant Professor of Medicine with a joint appointment at the KRC and the Department of Medicine’s Division of Nephrology and the Saul Price School of Public Policy and the USC…
Diet Rich in Potassium Linked to Lower Blood Pressure
Research from Keck School of Medicine of USC researcher Alicia McDonough, Ph.D., could lead to a simple and tasty way to lower blood pressure. “Decreasing sodium intake is a well-established way to lower blood pressure, but evidence suggests that increasing dietary potassium may have an equally important effect on hypertension,”…
The Chronic Kidney Disease Crisis
Chronic kidney disease (also known as CKD) is a growing epidemic here in the United States and worldwide, affecting 26 million Americans, many of whom are unaware they have it. CKD is a progressive loss of kidney function, occurring over a period of months or years. In the early stages, there may be few signs that anything is wrong. By the time symptoms of kidney disease appear – exhaustion; swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, or face; back pain; unexplained high blood pressure; changes in urination frequency and color - the kidneys may be seriously impaired.
Chronic kidney disease affects the general population, but is particularly prevalent among African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans. Diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes of kidney disease. Left untreated, kidney disease can lead to permanent damage and kidney failure. It is imperative that we protect our kidney health.
Chronic kidney disease affects the general population, but is particularly prevalent among African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans. Diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes of kidney disease. Left untreated, kidney disease can lead to permanent damage and kidney failure. It is imperative that we protect our kidney health.