Ken Kleinberg, a veteran talent lawyer, experienced a life-changing event during a work trip to the South of France in the late 1990s. He noticed his body becoming bloated and retaining fluid, prompting him to cut his trip short and seek medical treatment. Little did he know that this was the beginning of a decadeslong journey to eradicate kidney disease.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, Kleinberg’s doctor recommended seeing a kidney specialist. He underwent a kidney biopsy and a series of tests, leading to a diagnosis of Minimal Change Disease, a condition that affects kidney function. As his illness progressed, Kleinberg faced renal failure and had to undergo dialysis three times a week for six years before finally receiving a kidney transplant in 2007.
During his time in the hospital, Kleinberg had the opportunity to meet Dr. Vito Campese, who was then the head of the nephrology department at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. They discussed the lack of information and research on kidney-related issues, which struck a chord in Kleinberg. In 2002, they launched the University Kidney Research Organization (UKRO), and in September 2015, the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center was established through a partnership with USC.
Fast forward to 2022, and researchers led by Zhongwei Li and Andy McMahon at USC are making incredible progress in developing a synthetic kidney. With a grant from the National Institutes of Health, they have successfully transplanted kidneys built with stem cells into mice. The next step, if they can secure the necessary funding, is to begin human clinical trials.
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Ken Kleinberg’s goal is to make kidney disease as important a crusade as cancer or heart disease. He believes that kidney disease research should become a national medical priority, combining resources from the private and public sectors to find solutions. The USC/UKRO has accomplished remarkable things, particularly in the development of a synthetic kidney made from organic natural components. This advancement would revolutionize science and benefit the millions of people worldwide waiting for a kidney transplant.
Kleinberg stays actively involved in kidney disease research because he understands the impact it has on individuals. The suffering caused by kidney disease is shocking, and he believes that other diseases, such as AIDS, have shown the power of research in controlling and managing chronic illnesses. The synthetic kidney represents a treatment for chronic illness and a potential cure, offering hope to those struggling with kidney failure. Dialysis, while a replacement for normal kidney function, is not a permanent solution and often leads to a lower quality of life and premature death.
In order to advance kidney disease research from animal testing to human transplantation, there is a need for significant funding, estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars. Kleinberg hopes to energize the entertainment community to provide the necessary resources and galvanize public support for research into kidney disease. He believes that combining the intellectual firepower at USC with sufficient funding will benefit not only individuals and families but also the country and the world.
In conclusion, Ken Kleinberg’s personal experience with kidney disease has fueled his passion for eradicating the illness and improving the quality of life for those affected. Through the establishment of the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center and the ongoing development of a synthetic kidney, significant progress has been made. However, further funding is needed to advance research from animal testing to human clinical trials. Kleinberg calls for kidney disease research to become a national medical priority and hopes to inspire the entertainment community and the public to support this important cause.
