It is heartwarming and exciting to announce that our dear Hospital, the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu, has been placed once more on the global map, for an outstanding discovery through Research that potentially makes way for targeted treatment and interventions in individuals with Kidney Diseases.

Our very own Prof. Ifeoma Ulasi, a renowned Professor and distinguished academic of Nephrology, and her team, on behalf of UNTH, in collaboration with National Institute of Health and other national and international Collaborators, including our neighbouring country, Ghana conducted this research.

The findings of this study suggest that nearly one third of individuals of the West African Ancestry, have genomic variant (APOL 1 variants) that increases the risk of Kidney Disease. This gene variant has also been documented among people from Europe, Asia, Central & South America.

For us here in UNTH and in Nigeria, the implications of the findings of this research are that it will henceforth be possible to halt progression of Chronic Kidney Diseases in such individuals if identified early. Secondly, it will also be possible to identify other individuals in the family who may have the APOL 1 gene and are therefore at the risk of chronic kidney disease, for early prevention.

We dare say that we are very proud as an institution to have contributed to this Novel research finding that is making waves in the scientific arena.

Congratulations to UNTH Management for creating the enabling ground for this research!

Signed:
Uchelue Boniface E.
For: The Chief Medical Director