To the Editor: Kowal’s article resonates with our experience.1 However, the National Health and Medical Research Council has supported genetic testing in Indigenous Australians for longer than she cites. Through a 1995–1997 project grant, a 1998 PhD scholarship,2,3 a 2006 program grant and an Australia Research Fellowship (2008–), the NHMRC has supported work on kidney and related chronic diseases, in protocols endorsed by two remote communities and approved by appropriate agencies. Information from family pedigrees, phenotyping and DNA profiling underpins validation studies underway in a currently funded project grant.
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- 1. Kowal EE. Genetic research in Indigenous health: significant progress, substantial challenges. Med J Aust 2012; 197: 19-20.
- 2. McDonald SP, Hoy WE, Maguire GP, et al. The p53Pro72Arg polymorphism is associated with albuminuria among Aboriginal Australians. J Am Soc Nephrol 2002; 13: 677-683.
- 3. Singh G, Wang XL, Hoy WE. Association of renal size and P53Pro72Arg polymorphism in an Aboriginal population with high rates of renal failure [abstract]. Nephrology 2002; 7 Suppl 3: A3.
- 4. Hoy WE, Kincaid-Smith P, Hughson MD, et al. CKD in Aboriginal Australians. Am J Kidney Dis 2010; 56: 983-993.
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I thank the Tiwi people for their longstanding engagement and support.
No relevant disclosures.