KIR at 10: reaching wider and thinking ahead through digital outreach and AI
Jai Radhakrishnan (left) and Sumit Mohan
What does kidney research publishing look like in a rapidly evolving field? As Kidney International Reports® (KIR) marks its 10th anniversary, its editors discuss how the journal is expanding engagement with the global kidney community, adapting to new developments in publishing, and looking ahead to its next decade.
Extending reach and representation
Digital tools such as podcasts, short videos, social media, and X Spaces are central to KIR’s approach to online engagement with the worldwide kidney community. Editor-in-Chief Jai Radhakrishnan explains: “These formats allow us to provide key research findings in formats that fit into busy lives.” Deputy Editor Sumit Mohan adds, “They are not just marketing; they are part of the educational mission, extending the life and reach of each article.”
The editors point out that digital outreach connects KIR with a more geographically diverse readership and a broader audience, including trainees, nurses, patients, and colleagues from smaller or under-resourced centers. This approach helps strengthen KIR’s role as an inclusive platform for the global kidney community.
Balancing innovation with rigor
The journal is also adapting to the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI). “From language editing and figure preparation to literature screening and validating analytic pipelines, AI tools can assist with every aspect of publishing,” Professor Radhakrishnan observes.
At the same time, the editors recognize that these developments raise important ethical and methodological questions. In response, KIR is dynamically updating its policies on transparency, data sharing, and AI use while strengthening statistical and methodological standards and engaging the community on best practices. The goal, they add, is “to use these tools to enhance quality and equity while preserving rigor and human judgment.”
Shaping KIR’s next decade
As KIR enters its next decade, the editors aim to remain the leading venue for clinically impactful kidney care research, “with an even stronger focus on implementation science, health equity, and global kidney health.” Key priorities include expanding the editorial board and reviewer pool, deepening patient and multidisciplinary engagement, strengthening partnerships with investigators in low- and middle-income countries, and sustaining rapid yet rigorous peer review.
Dr. Mohan adds, “We would also like KIR to feature more work spanning cardiorenal-metabolic medicine, oncology, and critical care, recognizing the growing interdependence of these conditions in kidney care.”
“Above all,” says Professor Radhakrishnan, “we hope KIR is seen not just as a publication venue, but as a partner in advancing better kidney care worldwide by being the home for practice-changing research.”
