Joseph W. Eschbach
Encyclopedia
Joseph Wetherill Eschbach (January 21, 1933 – September 7, 2007) was an American
doctor and kidney specialist whose twenty years of research starting in the 1960’s led to an improvement in the treatment of anemia
.
Dr. Eschbach graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1959. Eschbach was married to MaryAnn Eschbach for 51 years, they had 3 children; 5 grandchildren.
Anemia
When his mentor, Dr. Belding H. Scribner
, challenged Dr. Eschbach, at the time a young nephrology researcher at the University of Washington
, to find a way to correct the anemia in kidney dialysis patients, Dr. Eschbach accepted the challenge. Working with a hematologist, Dr. John W. Adamson, Eschbach looked at various forms of renal failure
and the role a natural hormone, erythropoietin
, had in preventing anemia
. By studying the urine of sheep and other animals in the 1970s, the two scientists helped establish that erythropoietin
did stimulate the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.
In the 1980s, Dr. Eschbach helped lead a clinical trial at the Northwest Kidney Centers
studying whether an artificial erythropoietin
hormone, Epogen, manufactured by Amgen
, could replace or supplement the naturally occurring hormone. The trial was successful, and its results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine
in 1987: Administering artificial erythropoietin did reverse anemia in kidney patients. His research helped to inform and lead to the Food and Drug Administration's
1989 approval of the replacement hormone Epogen. Epogen and its derivative Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents remain in use throughout the world.
began in 1965, first as a clinical instructor, in 1975 Eschbach was named a clinical professor of nephrology
. Eschbach worked as a senior research associate at the Northwest Kidney Centers
in Seattle, and he served as chair of the Northwest Kidney Centers
non-profit board of trustees 1985-1987. On September 26th, 2007 the Northwest Kidney Centers
based in Seattle, WA and Kirin-Amgen announced an honorary gift to the University of Washington
Division of Nephrology to establish the Joseph W. Eschbach Endowed Chair in Kidney Research. "This is the greatest honor of my career," said Dr. Eschbach in August 2007 upon learning of the endowed $1.5 million chair in his name. "I am particularly pleased that NKC and the UW have put emphasis on kidney research since the future well-being of our patients depends on research applied to their needs."
program, the first home dialysis training center in the United States.
(1995), and the Haviland
Award of Excellence, Northwest Kidney Centers Foundation
(1991). He is a member of the Institute of Medicine
of the National Academy of Sciences (1990). In 2005 Eschbach was awarded the International Society of Nephrology Amgen International Prize. He was an emeritus board member of the Northwest Kidney Centers
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
doctor and kidney specialist whose twenty years of research starting in the 1960’s led to an improvement in the treatment of anemia
Anemia
Anemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin...
.
Dr. Eschbach graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1959. Eschbach was married to MaryAnn Eschbach for 51 years, they had 3 children; 5 grandchildren.
AnemiaAnemiaAnemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin...
Research
When his mentor, Dr. Belding H. ScribnerBelding H. Scribner
Belding Hibbard Scribner was a U.S. physician and a pioneer in kidney dialysis.-Biography:Scribner received his medical degree from Stanford University in 1945. After completing his postgraduate studies at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, he joined the faculty of the School of Medicine at...
, challenged Dr. Eschbach, at the time a young nephrology researcher at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, to find a way to correct the anemia in kidney dialysis patients, Dr. Eschbach accepted the challenge. Working with a hematologist, Dr. John W. Adamson, Eschbach looked at various forms of renal failure
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
and the role a natural hormone, erythropoietin
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...
, had in preventing anemia
Anemia
Anemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin...
. By studying the urine of sheep and other animals in the 1970s, the two scientists helped establish that erythropoietin
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...
did stimulate the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.
In the 1980s, Dr. Eschbach helped lead a clinical trial at the Northwest Kidney Centers
Northwest Kidney Centers
The Northwest Kidney Centers in Seattle Washington was established in 1962 as the first out-of-hospital outpatient hemodialysis treatment center. The model of providing hemodialysis outside of a hospital setting has spread throughout the world...
studying whether an artificial erythropoietin
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...
hormone, Epogen, manufactured by Amgen
Amgen
Amgen Inc. is an international biotechnology company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. Located in the Conejo Valley, Amgen is the world's largest independent biotech firm. The company employs approximately 17,000 staff members. Its products include Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel, Kineret,...
, could replace or supplement the naturally occurring hormone. The trial was successful, and its results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine
New England Journal of Medicine
The New England Journal of Medicine is an English-language peer-reviewed medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. It describes itself as the oldest continuously published medical journal in the world.-History:...
in 1987: Administering artificial erythropoietin did reverse anemia in kidney patients. His research helped to inform and lead to the Food and Drug Administration's
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
1989 approval of the replacement hormone Epogen. Epogen and its derivative Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents remain in use throughout the world.
Affiliations
Dr. Eschbach career at the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
began in 1965, first as a clinical instructor, in 1975 Eschbach was named a clinical professor of nephrology
Nephrology
Nephrology is a branch of internal medicine and pediatrics dealing with the study of the function and diseases of the kidney.-Scope of the specialty:...
. Eschbach worked as a senior research associate at the Northwest Kidney Centers
Northwest Kidney Centers
The Northwest Kidney Centers in Seattle Washington was established in 1962 as the first out-of-hospital outpatient hemodialysis treatment center. The model of providing hemodialysis outside of a hospital setting has spread throughout the world...
in Seattle, and he served as chair of the Northwest Kidney Centers
Northwest Kidney Centers
The Northwest Kidney Centers in Seattle Washington was established in 1962 as the first out-of-hospital outpatient hemodialysis treatment center. The model of providing hemodialysis outside of a hospital setting has spread throughout the world...
non-profit board of trustees 1985-1987. On September 26th, 2007 the Northwest Kidney Centers
Northwest Kidney Centers
The Northwest Kidney Centers in Seattle Washington was established in 1962 as the first out-of-hospital outpatient hemodialysis treatment center. The model of providing hemodialysis outside of a hospital setting has spread throughout the world...
based in Seattle, WA and Kirin-Amgen announced an honorary gift to the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
Division of Nephrology to establish the Joseph W. Eschbach Endowed Chair in Kidney Research. "This is the greatest honor of my career," said Dr. Eschbach in August 2007 upon learning of the endowed $1.5 million chair in his name. "I am particularly pleased that NKC and the UW have put emphasis on kidney research since the future well-being of our patients depends on research applied to their needs."
Medical Practice
A private practice nephrologist at Minor and James Medical clinic in Seattle, WA. Eschbach did his pioneering research on anemia while in private practice. From 1965 to 1972 Eschbach served as Director of the NKC home hemodialysisHome hemodialysis
Home hemodialysis , is the provision of hemodialysis in the home of people with stage 5 chronic kidney disease. In the US home hemodialysis was the most common method of renal replacement therapy in the early 1970s before the introduction of the Federal ESRD program under Medicare...
program, the first home dialysis training center in the United States.
Awards
Eschbach was the recipient of David M. Hume Memorial Award, National Kidney FoundationNational Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation, Inc. is a major voluntary health organization in the United States, headquartered in New York City...
(1995), and the Haviland
James W. Haviland
James W. Haviland, MD was an American doctor and specialist in Internal Medicine co-founder of the University of Washington School of Medicine and co-founder of the Northwest Kidney Centers....
Award of Excellence, Northwest Kidney Centers Foundation
Northwest Kidney Centers
The Northwest Kidney Centers in Seattle Washington was established in 1962 as the first out-of-hospital outpatient hemodialysis treatment center. The model of providing hemodialysis outside of a hospital setting has spread throughout the world...
(1991). He is a member of the Institute of Medicine
Institute of Medicine
The Institute of Medicine is a not-for-profit, non-governmental American organization founded in 1970, under the congressional charter of the National Academy of Sciences...
of the National Academy of Sciences (1990). In 2005 Eschbach was awarded the International Society of Nephrology Amgen International Prize. He was an emeritus board member of the Northwest Kidney Centers
Northwest Kidney Centers
The Northwest Kidney Centers in Seattle Washington was established in 1962 as the first out-of-hospital outpatient hemodialysis treatment center. The model of providing hemodialysis outside of a hospital setting has spread throughout the world...
.