University of Otago Dunedin School of Medicine clinical and experimental nephrology researcher Prof Rob Walker was recently awarded the 2024 T.J. Neale Award — the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology’s highest and most prestigious scientific award.
Prof Walker said the award’s connection to his mentor, the late Prof T.J. (Jim) Neale, made it all the more "special" for him.
"When I first came back to Dunedin as a junior consultant, I was setting up here on my own, and Jim Neale was the professor of medicine up in Wellington and was already an established research investigator — he was brilliant.
"He was very helpful in giving me guidance and getting my research programmes up and running. He was my mentor.
"The award was named after Jim tragically died at the age of 48. It was in recognition of his ability as a superb researcher.
"It was a nice honour to get this one.
"It also feels like closing the loop somehow."
Prof Walker is the first to receive the award while living and working in New Zealand.
The award recognises the outstanding contribution to nephrological science by a senior researcher who has been engaged in their own independent research programme for more than 12 years (FTE) since PhD acceptance.
He is a life member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology, a consultant nephrologist at Dunedin Hospital, and has spent 35 years researching the field.
His significant international contribution to understanding and managing kidney disease was also recognised last year by his peers when he was awarded the College Medal by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
While he was delighted with the awards, there was no time to rest on his laurels, Prof Walker said.
He continues to research how kidney damage progresses and how some drugs can modify that.
Clinically, he has various national and international trials of new medications which aim to minimise the impact of kidney disease and heart disease.
"There’s always an ongoing need.
"About one in four are at risk of developing kidney disease and up to one in 10 have chronic kidney disease, and probably only half of them know that they have kidney disease.
"Kidney disease is increasing worldwide. By 2035, it will be the fourth leading cause of death in the world behind cancer, heart disease and lung disease."
He said making the public aware of kidney disease was key to his work.
"We’re really trying to improve global awareness and early detection of kidney disease, because that’s when we can have the biggest intervention.
"We’d like to be at the top of the cliff, minimising the impact as much as possible.
"Once the kidneys have stopped working, it’s much, much harder."
