February 23, 2026, New York, New York — The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is pleased to announce that Mona Calvo, PhD Adjunct Research Professor in the Renal Division at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, is the 2026 recipient of the Joel D. Kopple Distinguished Lecture Award.
The Joel D. Kopple Award is an annual award honoring an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of renal nutrition. Don’t miss her Joel D. Kopple Distinguished Lecture titled “Phosphate Additives in Ultra-Processed Foods: A Mechanism in Cardiorenal Disease?” On May 8, 2026, at 8:45am CST at the NKF 2026 Spring Clinical Meetings.
“This is indeed an honor to be accepted as a peer by such a prestigious award, said Dr. Calvo. “The NKF is an information source gathered from many different disciplines that can be applied in many ways to improve the health, quality of life and general well-being of renal patients world-wide. This distinguished award means acceptance of my research contributions, suggestions, and potential application of food label changes to the dietary management of patients by the clinicians and health care professionals for whom I have enormous respect.”
Dr. Calvo has over three decades of research, regulation, and mentorship shaping the future of nephrology and nutrition. She is a proud graduate of the Division of Nutritional Sciences doctoral program at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She strengthened her clinical and pre-clinical research and analytical skills with 5 years post-doctoral training in the Endocrine Research Unit of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
She then joined the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition earning the status of Expert Regulatory Review Scientist with review responsibilities that included evaluating the health effects of analytical, pre-clinical, and clinical data submitted in support of safety issues relating to infant formulas, dietary supplements, medical foods, food fortification, food additives, and health claim labeling.
“Dr. Calvo has made seminal and impactful contributions to the field of renal nutrition, advancing both clinical understanding and patient outcomes,” said Dr. Kirk Campbell, President of the National Kidney Foundation. “Her work has helped shape best practices in nutritional care for individuals living with kidney disease.”
After retiring with 29+ years of service at the FDA, Dr. Calvo continues her decades long collaborative research as an Adjunct Research Professor in the Division of Nephrology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NYC with nephrologist, Dr. Jaime Uribarri. Her current and past research focuses on the effects of diet on hormonal regulation of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D, and their impact on the prevention and management of bone and kidney disease which are the topics of her peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, government reports, guidelines, and regulations.
“I have always had an enthusiasm for healthy diets and how optimal nutrition impacts health,” said Dr. Calvo. “Careful management of the diet of chronic kidney disease patients can delay progression to loss of kidney function, but perhaps even before alter the course of cardio-renal disease and the development of bone fragility.”
Dr. Calvo will receive the award among the nephrology professionals gathered in New Orleans, for the NKF 2026 Spring Clinical Meetings, May 6 to 10.
NKF Spring Clinical Meetings
For more than 30 years, nephrology healthcare professionals from across the country have come to the NKF Spring Clinical Meetings to learn about the newest developments related to all aspects of nephrology practice; network with colleagues; and present their research findings. The NKF Spring Clinical Meetings are designed for meaningful change in the multidisciplinary and interprofessional healthcare teams’ skills, performance, and patient health outcomes. It is the only conference of its kind that focuses on translating science into practice for the entire healthcare team. This year’s Spring Clinical Meetings will be held in New Orleans, LA, May 6 – 10, 2026.
Kidney Disease
In the United States, more than 35 million adults are estimated to have kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney disease (CKD)—and approximately 90 percent don’t know they have it. About 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. are at risk for kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are about four times as likely as White people to have kidney failure. Hispanics experience kidney failure at about double the rate of White people.
NKF Professional Membership
Healthcare professionals can join NKF to receive access to tools and resources for both patients and professionals, discounts on professional education, and access to a network of thousands of individuals who treat patients with kidney disease. Visit https://www.kidney.org/membership to learn more and join our community today. You belong here.
Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence
For 75 years, The National Kidney Foundation has been a leader in advancing kidney health, working to ensure that every person has access to high-quality, patient-centered care—from prevention and diagnosis to transplantation.
As we celebrate this milestone, NKF has launched its 75th Anniversary campaign - a bold initiative aimed at transforming kidney health and patient care by 2030. Our goal is to impact 75 million lives by raising funds to help fulfill the NKF mission, drive innovation, empower patients, and advocate for systemic change in kidney health. To make a difference in the fight against kidney disease, visit DONATE TODAY!
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation. For more information about kidney disease, please visit www.kidney.org/
Media Contact:
Jade Rivera-McFarlin
413-537-1155
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