Researcher from Rigshospitalet receives his second award this year

A professor from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark received his second award of honour this year for his scientific work. Professor Hans-Henrik Parving, Consultant at the Department of Endocrinology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark received the Belding H. Scribner Award on 20 November 2010.

The Scribner Award is presented annually by the American Society of Nephrology to a person who has made outstanding contributions that have a direct impact on the care of patients with renal diseases.

With the award comes USD 10,000 (EUR 7,500).

Vascular damage and blood clots
Diabetic nephropathy has been paramount in Professor Hans-Henrik Parving’s research which aims at preventing and treating vascular damage of the kidneys in order to avoid chronic renal failure.

Furthermore, his research has focused on prevention of blindness, brain haemorrhage and heart attacks in patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy.

Prolongs life by 14 years
The research of Professor Hans-Henrik Parving has had a major international impact.

His research has helped prolong the expected survival period for patients with diabetic nephropathy from 7 years to more than 21 years. The main factor behind his success has been introducing treatment to reduce blood pressure.

First European to receive the award
Professor Hans-Henrik Parving is the first European ever to receive the award, which this year was presented for the 16th time.

The award was instituted to honour the American Professor Belding H. Scribner, who invented a shunt to connect an artery and vein, which can be implanted in the arm of the kidney patient, thereby enabling continuous haemodialysis.

This invention changed the treatment of chronic renal failure around the globe.

On August 20, 2010, Professor Hans-Henrik Parving received the Bagger-Sørensen Award of DKK 500,000 (EUR 66,000).