Revolutionizing Kidney Treatment

By Office of the President | Jan 23, 2024

Moro O. Salifu, M.D., MPH, MBA, MACP, a renowned figure in medical innovation, holds prestigious positions as Chairman of Medicine, Chief of Nephrology, and Director of Interventional Nephrology. He has earned national and global recognition for his revolutionary discovery and role of the human platelet F11 receptor, which has significantly advanced our understanding of stenosis in the vascular system.

This latest venture, in which Anna Babinska, Ph.D., joins Dr. Salifu as a collaborator, is generously supported by the SUNY Research Foundation’s Technology Accelerator Fund (TAF), focuses on the development of an innovative drug to combat two prevalent and severe complications faced by kidney failure patients undergoing hemodialysis: vascular access stenosis and thrombosis.

For those dependent on dialysis, the continuous upkeep of functional vascular access, usually situated in the arm, remains a persistent and demanding task and is often compromised due to the thickening of blood vessel walls, resulting in frequent surgical interventions to keep them open. Dr. Salifu’s pioneering technology inhibits the smooth vascular muscles’ reaction to blood and extends the duration during which these vessels remain open without the need for surgical intervention.

The SUNY Technology Accelerator Fund (TAF) has been instrumental in transforming SUNY discoveries into market-ready solutions. With over $3M invested in 65 innovative projects since 2011 and more than $16M leveraged from development partners, TAF demonstrates its unwavering commitment to fostering disruptive technologies. TAF’s rigorous evaluation of each technology, considering innovativeness, market potential, and financial viability, aims to enhance the commercial appeal of SUNY inventions, and increase eligibility for federal investment programs like Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer.

Dr. Salifu’s pioneering work, conducted with laboratory colleague Anna Babinska, Ph.D., showcases the significant impact of TAF’s mission, bridging the gap between research and real-world applications and driving life-changing advancements in healthcare. See the Research Foundation’s TAF video featuring Dr. Salifu on YouTube.

Tags: Nephrology