Plan stronger CKDu research with the new ISN i3C Toolkit
What if better research approaches could help take the “unknown” out of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu)?
Launched at WCN’26, the new ISN i3C CKDu Toolkit* is designed to help build research capacity in CKDu-endemic regions by strengthening study design and implementation through consistent approaches to case definitions, exposure assessment, and outcome measurement.
It offers practical guidance to strengthen the rigor, consistency, and comparability of CKDu research across studies and settings by:
- Developing laboratory and pathology infrastructure
- Adopting validated biomarkers where feasible
- Following good practices for collecting, storing, and managing biological samples
What you will find in the toolkit
Drawing on the ISN i3C’s principal publications, you’ll get step-by-step guidance on:
- Epidemiologic, molecular, and genetic methods
- Disease detection and minimum datasets
- Ethics in CKDu research
- Kidney biopsy best practice in endemic regions
- Interventional study design
- Multicountry cohort design
The toolkit is designed to support harmonized but adaptable approaches across diverse settings, while promoting equitable participation, ethical research practice, and capacity building in the regions most affected.
By helping to bring greater consistency, practicality, and equity to CKDu research, the toolkit can help teams produce stronger evidence and move the field closer to clearer answers.
*The toolkit was developed by ISN i3C CKDu Working Group member Ana Catalina Alvarez Elias (US), with support from incoming chair Ben Caplin (UK) and outgoing chair Eranga Wijewickrama (Sri Lanka).
Further reading
