School of Medical and Health Sciences

Professor Wai Lim

Professor Wai Lim is a Professor of Renal Medicine in the Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute, within the School of Medical and Health Sciences.

Background

Professor Lim is the Medical Director of Kidney Transplantation and Head of the Department of Renal Medicine and Transplantation at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH). Professor of Renal Medicine at Edith Cowan University (ECU) and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Western Australia (UWA). He completed his Fellowship of Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) training in Nephrology in 2003 and was awarded his PhD in 2006 by the University of Adelaide. He has received funding exceeding $12 million, with 6 successful NHMRC grants and two Career Development Fellowships.

Contribution to field of research

There are three key areas of research interests: 1) “Epidemiology and kidney transplantation” with research focusing on improving allocation and health outcomes in kidney transplant recipients; 2) “Immunology profile and transplant outcome” focusing on developing a personalised immunological risk profile score; 3) “Epidemiology and clinical nephrology” focusing on the impact of nutrition and survival and evaluating biomarkers and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with chronic kidney disease and kidney transplants. His work in transplantation research is internationally recognised, and the findings have been utilised to assist clinical decision making and consideration for policy implementation to improve donor kidney allocation and improving selection policies and health outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Collaborations

Professor Lim has established an extensive collaborative network both nationally and internationally to investigate risk factors associated with health outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant recipients. His 6 NHMRC grants have led to collaboration with national and international stellar researchers: i) Project grant for conducting a randomised controlled trial examining the CVD benefits of high dose fish oil in haemodialysis patients (Australia, Canada), ii) Project grant to investigate immunological incompatibility in Indigenous kidney transplant recipients, iii) Ideas grant aim to improve the selection process of the most suitable parent for kidney transplantation for paediatric and adolescent patients with kidney failure (Australia, United Kingdom, Belgium, The Netherlands, New Zealand), (iv) MRFF grant to investigate novel risk factors for CVD in kidney transplant recipients (Australia, Canada), (v) MRFF grant to investigate genetic and lifestyle determinants of abdominal aortic calcification, and their relationship with CVD, and (vi) MRFF aim to develop a polygenic risk score to predict kidney transplant outcome. In addition, he is a team member of the NHMRC-funded The Calcium Intake Fracture Outcome Study and Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women, which includes collaborators across multiple disciplines and internationally to examine the effects of certain dietary factors on kidney function decline, bone, cognitive and vascular health outcomes in elderly women.

Community engagement and involvement

Professor Lim and collaborators from WA have established an Indigenous taskforce to engage Indigenous leaders and stakeholders from the Kimberley in WA to develop plans and practical actions that address the unmet needs of improving the kidney transplant-related education and transplant access for Indigenous Australians.

Professional Associations

Professor Lim is a member of the National Renal Transplant Advisory Committee (RTAC), Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ)/RTAC Kidney Allocation Subcommittee, TSANZ Virtual Crossmatch Allocation Committee, Commonwealth-funded National Indigenous Kidney Transplant Taskforce (NIKTT), Co-Chair of the TSANZ Scientific Program and Education Committee and Chair of the Scientific Review Ethics Subcommittee at SCGH.

He is the Immediate Past Chair of the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry Transplant working group, Australian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN) transplant working group and WA Kidney Transplant Service.

He is also a member of several international and national advisory board committees and has been invited to give presentations at local and international meetings. He was the past Coordinator of Nephrology Advanced Training for the RACP (until 2018).

Awards and Recognition

• 2017 - Kidney Health Australia Finalist Award, Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology
• 2016 - Mark Cocks Award, The Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand
• 2016 - Kidney Health Australia Best Clinical Science Award, The Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand
• 2015 - Kidney Health Australia Finalist Award, Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology
• 2013 - Kidney Health Australia Finalist Award, Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology
• 2005 - The Bristol-Myers-Squibb Young Investigators Award, Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology
• 2005 - The Jansen-Cilag International Travel Award, The Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand

International standing

Professor Lim has been invited to speak in multiple national and international conferences. In 2021-present, CI Lim was an invited speaker to give 14 lectures in national and international meetings on kidney transplant topics.

Supervision and mentoring

Professor Lim currently supervises 2 higher degree students and has supervised 5 higher degree students to completion in the last five years. He also supervises advanced nephrology trainees with over 25 trainees completing research projects to publications.

Peer review

• Editorial Board member of “Kidney International” (2020-present)
• Associate Editor of “Frontiers in Immunology” (2021-present)
• Associated Editor of “Transplant International” (2020- present)
• Associated Editor of “Nephrology” journals (2019-present)

Research Areas and Interests

• Kidney transplantation
• Chronic kidney disease
• Cardiovascular disease
• Transplant immunology
• Cancer

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Adelaide, 2006.

Research Outputs

Research Projects

• Alloantibody in kidney transplant recipients: Is this the missing link to reduce the risk of heart disease? (AN-INSPIRE STUDY), National Health and Medical Research Council, MRFF - Cardiovascular Health Mission - 2021 Cardiovascular Health Grant, 2022 ‑ 2025, $996,354.