September 22, 2014

Dr. Rajesh Balkrishnan, Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, is the U-M Principal Investigator on a grant entitled "Transplant Outcomes Using Generic and Brand Name Immunosuppressants: studying medications used by people who have received kidney and liver transplants." This grant has been funded by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Dr. Jeong-Mi Park, Clinical Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, is a co-investigator on this grant which carries a total award of $965,972 from 2014-2016. This research project, a collaboration between U-M and Arbor Research, will analyze several retrospective databases to study medications used by people who have received kidney and liver transplants. In this study, investigators will examine whether generic versions of these medications are as effective as brand name versions at keeping the transplanted organ healthy. If they are equally effective, the investigators will calculate how much money patients and health insurers could save by using generics.

"This research represents an important extension of the ongoing research between the U-M Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center (UM-KECC) and the College of Pharmacy to study important patient outcomes related to kidney disease treatment,” states Dr. Balkrishnan.

Dr. Balkrishnan is also the U-M College of Pharmacy Investigator on four large federally funded kidney disease outcomes projects at the UM-KECC totaling over $18 million in research awards, including the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) study.