The Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training program (KRESCENT) is an exciting and unique training initiative aimed at enhancing kidney research capacity in Canada. Launched in January 2005, the KRESCENT program’s primary goal is to train an increasing number of highly skilled scientists focused on the prevention of end-stage renal disease and the development of new treatments that improve the health of Canadians affected by kidney disease.

KRESCENT is a multi-partner collaboration, founded by The Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Society of Nephrology (CSN), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Nutrition Metabolism and Diabetes (CIHR).

Summer Studentships

Awarded to undergraduate students or medical school students, the studentships provide salary support to complete a summer student position in an approved Canadian kidney research laboratory.
Allied Health Doctoral Award

A limited number of fellowships that fund full-time academic study and preparation for research at the doctoral level to allied health professionals.
Post-Doctoral Fellowship

An “in-training” award intended for applicants with a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree. The objective is to attract and foster late stage trainees to initiate and/or continue their training in kidney research.
New Investigator Awards

Awarded to researchers (within three years of their first faculty appointment) who have clearly demonstrated excellence during their pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training in kidney disease.

Since its inception in 2005, the impact of the KRESCENT program has been significant:

137 Awards given
59% of post-doctoral fellows have attained academic positions
87% of trainees have remained in kidney health
103 Research Trainees trained
98% of new investigators have been successful at getting CIHR funding as principal investigators
The KRESCENT program champions diversity, proudly supporting programs where 47% of participants are female, reflecting its commitment to inclusive excellence
54% of past trainees hold leadership positions (including 7 Canada Research Chairs)
More than 5800 research publications authored by KRESCENT alumni
Lived experience engagement through Patient Community Advisory Network (PCAN)
Important contributions to the creation of scientific knowledge and development of new methodologies
An increase in the overall impact of kidney research as a percentage of all health research in Canada, outperforming other countries internationally, (comparing 2000 to 2005 and 2009 to 2014 data)
Increased productivity, multi-authored papers, and collaborations (including international collaborations) amongst investigators receiving KRESCENT training and support when compared with non-funded applicants

Funding Opportunities

In line with its aim of enhancing kidney research capacity in Canada, the KRESCENT program is focused on the recruitment and training of those who will subsequently assume leadership roles in kidney research in Canada. The KRESCENT program provides salary support to post-doctoral fellows, new investigators and allied health scholars. Salary support is paired with exceptional mentorship, training opportunities and career development support.

The program additionally supports a summer studentship program aimed at Black and Indigenous undergraduate and medical school students, aimed to both provide a culturally safe kidney research training experience for emerging research scholars, and to address known disparities in the kidney research community.

Information on KRESCENT funding opportunities can be found below, or on Kidney Foundation Opportunities on the Kidney Foundation website.

KRESCENT Summer Studentship Program

The KRESCENT program Summer Studentship award is awarded to undergraduate students or medical school students who identify as black or Indigenous and provides salary support to complete a summer student position in an approved Canadian kidney research laboratory.
The main objective of the award is to create opportunity and support students from historically underrepresented groups to experience research in a culturally safe environment, while building their experience and exploring kidney research.
In order to apply, please see award guidelines and application form below.
Anticipated Competition Timelines*
Competition Opens: January 5, 2025
Full application Deadline: February 23, 2026, 2026
Anticipated Date for Notice of Award: April 15, 2026
Funding Start Date: May 2026 or when start date aligns for the student (awards may be from 8-16 weeks in length)
* These timelines are estimates and subject to change.
Resources
Summer Studentship Guidelines
Summer Studentship Application Process
Summer Studentship Application Form
List of Participating Labs
Allied Health Doctoral Award

The KRESCENT program Summer Studentship award is awarded to undergraduate students or medical school students who identify as black or Indigenous and provides salary support to complete a summer student position in an approved Canadian kidney research laboratory.
The main objective of the award is to create opportunity and support students from historically underrepresented groups to experience research in a culturally safe environment, while building their experience and exploring kidney research.
In order to apply, please see award guidelines and application form below.
Anticipated Competition Timelines*
Competition Opens: January 5, 2025
Full application Deadline: February 23, 2026, 2026
Anticipated Date for Notice of Award: April 15, 2026
Funding Start Date: May 2026 or when start date aligns for the student (awards may be from 8-16 weeks in length)
* These timelines are estimates and subject to change.
Resources
Summer Studentship Guidelines
Summer Studentship Application Process
Summer Studentship Application Form
List of Participating Labs
Post-Doctoral Fellowships

A KRESCENT program post-doctoral fellowship is an “in-training” award intended for applicants with a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree. The objective is to attract and foster late stage trainees to initiate and/or continue their training in kidney research.
Candidates with more than four years of post-Ph.D. training by the competition deadline are not eligible. Applicants with a MD or equivalent degree must hold license in Canada and be enrolled in a research program leading to certification in Canada at the time of applying for this award.
Applications for this award must be supported by the university or institution where the candidate will conduct the proposed research. The annual stipend is $65,000 CAD (MD) or $55,000 CAD (PhD) for two to three years. 50% of this stipend will be covered by the KRESCENT program, and 50% will be matched by the host institution.
Applications to this program are through the online portal Proposal Central.
Anticipated Competition Timelines*
Application Platform Opens: January 15, 2026
Registration Deadline: N/A
Full Application Deadline: March 03, 2026
Anticipated Date for Notice of Award: May 2026
Funding Start Date: July 2026

* These timelines are estimates and subject to change.
Resources
KRESCENT Post-Doctoral Fellowship Policies
Policy on Indirect Costs of Research
Best Practices for Writing a Plain Language Abstract
New Investigator Award

The KRESCENT program New Investigator Award is awarded to researchers (within three years of their first faculty appointment) who have clearly demonstrated excellence during their pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training in kidney disease. This award provides salary support for up to three years of the faculty appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor or equivalent at a Canadian University. The purpose of this award is to support the recipient in becoming established as a fully independent investigator in the field of kidney disease.
Applications for this award must be supported by the university or institution where the candidate will conduct the proposed research. The university or institution is expected to guarantee the applicant appropriate academic rank and to provide adequate space and facilities for the investigator’s research, commensurate with the status of the awardee in terms of experience and level of support by the program. The institution or department will also have to confirm protected research time as stated in the guidelines.
The annual stipend is $ 70,000 CAD (MD) or $65,000 CAD (PhD) for three years. 50% of this stipend will be covered by the KRESCENT program, and 50% will be matched by the host institution.
The program also offers to match up to $25,000 of infrastructure support (lab start-up costs and staff) committed by the host institution.
Applications to this program are through the online portal Proposal Central.
Anticipated Competition Timelines*
Application Platform Opens: January 15, 2026
Registration Deadline: N/A
Full Application Deadline: March 03, 2026
Anticipated Date for Notice of Award: May 2026
Funding Start Date: July 2026

* These timelines are estimates and subject to change.
Resources
KRESCENT New Investigator Award Policies
Policy on Indirect Costs of Research
Best Practices for Writing a Plain Language Abstract

Devron Swaby

KRESCENT Summer Studentship

Supervisor(s): Dr. Istvan Mucsi
Institution: University Health Network
Year: 2025
Project Title: Attachment style and symptom burden in adults with kidney failure: A multi-centre, cross-sectional study
Abbey Retta

KRESCENT Summer Studentship

Supervisor(s): Dr. Gregory Hundemer
Institution: University of Ottawa / The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Year: 2025
Project Title: Investigating the prevalence of white coat hypertension and masked hypertension: a systematic review

Dr. Mathieu Lemaire

Program director

Dr. Mathieu Lemaire

Program director

Dr. Mathieu Lemaire
Program Director
After finishing his medical training at McGill University, Dr. Lemaire moved to Toronto to learn Paediatrics and Nephrology at Toronto’s SickKids before moving to Yale University to pursue a Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. Richard Lifton. There, he focused on gene discovery for rare pediatric kidney diseases. This work led to the discovery of two novel forms of atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome. He then returned to SickKids, joining the Division of Nephrology, the Cell Biology program at the SickKids Research Institute, and the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto.
Much of his work in the lab and clinic focuses on rare genetic diseases affecting the kidneys of children, including glomerular, cystic, metabolic and tubular conditions.
Dr. Adeera Levin, FRCPC

Senior Advisor

Dr. Adeera Levin, FRCPC

Senior Advisor

Dr. Adeera Levin, FRCPC
Senior Advisor
Dr. Adeera Levin, FRCPC, is a Professor of Medicine at University of BC and the Executive director of the BC Provincial Renal, an organization which manages and co-ordinates the care of patients with kidney disease in the province of BC. She is the Senior advisor for the Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training Program — KRESCENT Program. She is currently Chair of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), CKD Work group for the updated guidelines 2023. She is also the lead of the SPOR network Can SOLVE-CKD. Her research and clinical activities focus on chronic kidney disease, co morbidities associated with CKD mechanisms of disease and health outcomes research.
Dr. Levin is active in mentoring young investigators in kidney related research and holds numerous grants for clinical studies. She has received funding from peer reviewed organizations such as CIHR (Canadian Institute of Health Research), The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Michael Smith Foundation, and the Ministry of Health Services BC. In addition, she is the principal investigator on several studies investigator-initiated industry funded grants. She has received many teaching and research awards, and in 2015, was honoured with the Order of Canada.
Sunny Hartwig, Ph.D.

Curriculum Chair

Sunny Hartwig, Ph.D.

Curriculum Chair

Thicha Satapitanon

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The KRESCENT program: committed to reducing the burden of kidney disease throughout Canada

Our Impact

Funding Opportunities

KRESCENT Overview

KRESCENT Awardees

The KRESCENT program: committed to reducing the burden of kidney disease throughout Canada

Our Impact

Funding Opportunities

KRESCENT Overview

KRESCENT Awardees

Dr. Mathieu Lemaire

Dr. Adeera Levin, FRCPC

Sunny Hartwig, Ph.D.

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