Dr Tanya Sharma, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine at

AIIMS Bhopal, showcased her research on the ‘Role of novel biomarkers as early predictors of sickle cell nephropathy in children with sickle cell disease in Indian children’ at the 15th Asian Congress of Pediatric Nephrology held recently in Dubai, UAE.

Out of a pool of 387 global abstract submissions, Dr. Sharma's scientific oral presentation was selected as one of the 12 presented at the prestigious conference. Her presentation highlighted the critical early changes

of sickle cell nephropathy that manifest in childhood. Identifying these changes at an early stage is crucial for timely intervention, with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Renal complications are a significant contributor to the mortality of adult survivors of

sickle cell disease. Dr. Sharma underscored the necessity of exploring the role of novel

biomarkers for the early identification of sickle cell nephropathy. The presentation delved into

the potential of biomarkers such as cystatin C, NGAL, NAG, and KIM1 in pediatric sickle cell

patients, demonstrating their promise for early detection of nephropathy and accurate estimation of kidney functions.

Dr. Tanya Sharma’s research is part of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

multicentric initiative, the ‘Indian Sickle Cell Nephropathy Consortium’ where she serves as the Principal Investigator. This consortium is dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of sickle cell nephropathy, contributing significantly to the global efforts in addressing this critical health issue.

Prof (Dr) Ajai Singh, Executive Director, AIIMS Bhopal, congratulated Dr. Tanya Sharma for her presentation at the 15th Asian Congress of Pediatric Nephrology.