Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the sudden onset of kidney failure or kidney damage that happens within a few hours or days.
AKI causes a build-up of waste products in the blood making it hard for the kidneys to keep the right balance of fluid in the body.
AKI can affect other organs such as the brain, heart, and lungs. Acute kidney injury is common in older patients and who are in intensive care units.
Why do millions of people worldwide still face limited access to dialysis despite advances in kidney care? This urgent question was at the heart of the recent ISN-GKHA webinar: “Global variations in hemodialysis access and outcomes – insights for improving kidney care worldwide,” based on two extensive global studies informed by 2023 ISN-Global Kidney Health...
The ISN Pregnancy and Disease Toolkit has been expanded with three new modules to support clinicians managing complex cases in this critical area: Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury Postpartum follow-up and care Management of pregnancy hypertension and preeclampsia These evidence-based resources are ideal for personal learning or teaching others and aim to improve outcomes for mothers and babies worldwide. Access...
SEN members during a kidney care campaign We caught up with Darío Jiménez Acosta, President of the Ecuadorian Society of Nephrology (SEN), to learn how SEN is advancing kidney care locally and strengthening global ties through the ISN as a Collective-member society. Tell us about SEN and its origins SEN has been active since 1990, organizing national...
By nominating an outstanding peer, you’re recognizing their achievements and helping to drive progress and elevate the global standard of care for people living with kidney disease. Dr. Adeera Levin, recipient of the 2024 Jean Hamburger Award, captured the spirit of this work: “Knowing that you can help take better care of people and answer important...
Through robust data collection, international collaboration, and practical insights, the 2023 ISN-Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA) continues to drive progress in kidney care worldwide. This essential resource maps the availability and quality of kidney health services globally, helping kidney care professionals shape policy, support advocacy, guide research priorities, and identify service gaps, all toward...
Advance your career, gain hands-on experience, and bring essential interventional nephrology skills back to your community with an ISN Interventional Nephrology (IN) Scholarship. Read the full guidelines and eligibility requirements These scholarships support early-career nephrologists from low-, lower-middle, or upper-middle-income countries with practical training through two courses: Foundation course (2–4 weeks): Focused on specific interventional procedures, with...
Ambitious early-career nephrologists from low-, lower-middle and upper-middle-income countries now have the chance to train at the renowned Royal London Hospital through a newly established fellowship — the Muhammad Magdi Yaqoob Fellowship. Launched in partnership with the ISN to honor Professor Yaqoob's lifetime commitment to global kidney care and education, this fellowship aims to build...
As part of the goals of the ASN-ERA-ISN Kidney Support Initiative, the ISN has partnered with Direct Relief, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), and the European Renal Association (ERA) to launch the Global Humanitarian Kidney Support Initiative. The initiative aims to strengthen preparedness and coordination for kidney care in crisis settings, combining global...
The ISN strongly supports the upcoming World Health Organization (WHO) resolution, “Reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases through the promotion of kidney health and strengthening prevention and control of kidney disease.” Led by Guatemala, this milestone resolution will be presented for a vote at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), taking place in Geneva from...
Results from a survey led by Cédric Rafat and members of the ISN Western Europe Regional Board (WERB) have been published in the Journal of Nephrology. The survey, developed and disseminated with support from the European Renal Association's Young Nephrologists' Platform, gathered responses from 378 nephrologists in 29 countries. Read “Kidney failure care for migrants:...
Pediatric nephrology staff from the Yangon Children’s Hospital, the Children’s Hospital in Mandalay, and the National University Hospital in Singapore, and pediatrician and nurse trainees from district hospitals at a PD training workshop 2019 A ten-year ISN Sister Renal Centers (SRC) trio collaboration between Myanmar’s two leading pediatric nephrology centers and the National University Hospital...
Past ISN Fellow Dharshan Rangaswamy with his host mentor Professor Jeremy Chapman Apply by May 1 for the chance to train at a world-class center, connect globally, and bring lasting impact to kidney care in your region. Past ISN Fellow Dharshan Rangaswamy shares: "The mentorship I received during my fellowship continues to influence my practice, and I...
The ISN, in collaboration with the American Society of Onconephrology (ASON), has launched the new “Onconephrology Case Presentation Series” — now available at the ISN Academy. This case-based video series spotlights challenging real-world scenarios at the intersection of cancer and kidney care, helping clinicians sharpen their diagnostic and management skills in this evolving field. Case 1:...
The ISN is pleased to welcome several incoming committee and working group chairs, deputy chairs and members to their new roles, which took effect at WCN’25 – we look forward to their contributions. Please join us in congratulating these new leaders and members and thanking their predecessors for their valuable service. ISN-ACT (Advancing Clinical Trials)...
Staff from AIIMS Bhopal and Montreal Children's Hospital Celebrated at WCN’25, the 2025 Schrier Award went to the ISN Sister Renal Centers (SRC) partnership between the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal, in Madhya Pradesh, India, and Montreal Children's Hospital at the McGill University Health Center, in Montreal, Canada. Girish Chandra Bhatt,...
The ISN is committed to amplifying the voices of people living with kidney disease through several initiatives, including the work of the ISN Patient Liaison Advisory Group. Another key effort is an ongoing global map of kidney patient organizations designed to help individuals find support and connect with others who share similar experiences. Explore the...
The ISN endorses educational and scientific events that help advance kidney care.* In April, ISN representatives will participate in the 1st International Conference of Doctors and Students in Nephrology in Croatia, and the Congress of the African Association of Nephrology (AFRAN). 1st International Conference of Doctors and Students in Nephrology Kidney in focus: Young physicians leading...
Swarnalata Gowrishankar (fourth from left) alongside staff from the Kigali University Teaching Hospital in Rwanda In March 2025, ISN Educational Ambassador (EA) Swarnalata Gowrishankar, a renal pathologist at the Apollo Hospitals in India, spent two weeks helping to set up a kidney pathology laboratory in the pathology department of the Kigali University Teaching Hospital in...
PLOS Global Public Health recently hosted a roundtable with the lead authors of ISN-Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA) articles they published earlier this year. The authors highlight key insights from their research, which examined disparities in the availability, affordability, quality, and access to kidney care services across countries categorized by World Bank income group classifications. Watch...
The ISN and The Transplantation Society (TTS) are pleased to announce five newly formed partnerships that have been accepted into the joint ISN-TTS Sister Transplant Centers (STC) Program in 2025: STC Philippines-Philippines-Spain (trio partnership): Cotabato Regional Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), and Hospital Clínic (HC), University of Barcelona. The SPMC and HC graduated...
