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Why does chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu) remain so difficult to define, study, and prevent? In this episode, experts from the ISN i3C Working Group unpack the research gaps that continue to slow progress and discuss what is needed to move the field forward. 

Ben Caplin, Magdalena Madero, Eranga Wijewickrama, and Shuchi Anand* highlight gaps in terminology, study design, and data collection, and question whether current research approaches are asking the right questions. 

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The episode builds on a recent Kidney International® article from the ISN i3C Working Group, “Taking the ‘unknown’ out of CKDu — optimizing approaches to uncover the cause(s) of epidemic-level kidney disease in low- and middle-income settings: a report from the ISN’s International Consortium of CKDu Collaborators (ISN i3C).“  

The team also developed the ISN i3C CKDu Toolkit, launched at WCN’26. Designed to strengthen research capacity in CKDu-endemic regions, it supports more consistent study design and implementation, helping teams generate stronger evidence and move the field closer to clearer answers.

*Ben Caplin (UK) is the ISN i3C Working Group chair; Magdalena Madero (Mexico) is the ISN i3C Working Group deputy chair; Eranga Wijewickrama (Sri Lanka) and Shuchi Anand (United States) are ISN i3C Working Group members.