ASF Announcements


ASF Awards Research Funding to Dr. Laura Perin of the Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

The Alport Syndrome Foundation is pleased to announce that it has awarded $100,000 in funding to Dr. Laura Perin of the Saban Research Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for a two-year research project entitled Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells (AFSC) and Alport Syndrome. Dr. Perin’s research project proposes to use Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells (AFSC) as a novel approach to reversing fibrosis in AS. AFSCs appear to be a valuable alternative to both embryonic and adult stem cells, offering a new approach to tissue repair and regenerative medicine. Stem cells were discovered in amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women in 2007, representing a novel and ground-breaking finding in the field. Since then, it has become well known that AFSCs are readily available via routine antenatal testing (i.e., amniocenteses). AFSCs also appear to be much more pluripotent (i.e., able to generate a broad range of cell types) than adult stem cells, yet do not involve harming or destroying life at any stage, thus avoiding the ethical dilemma associated with the use of embryonic stem cells.

Dr. Perin’s research has application in understanding how AFSCs modulate the molecular mechanisms that reverse interstitial fibrosis in AS. Understanding how AFSCs behave in an in vivo environment will strengthen the foundation for translation into viable clinical therapies for the future, and possibly significantly delaying or avoiding End Stage Renal Failure in AS patients.


Click here to read Dr. Perin’s full research abstract
Click here for more information on Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells (AFSC)


Arizona 5K for Healthy Kidneys is a success

The 4th Annual Alport Syndrome 5K for Healthy Kidneys, held in Tempe, Arizona on April 3rd, was a great success. There were over 300 participants who raised more than $33,000 for the foundation. Proceeds from the 5K will be used for outreach, awareness, and development of family conferences. Thank you to all of our racers, fundraisers, and volunteers who worked so hard to make the event a success and a big thank to our sponsors:

Click here to view photos of the 5K