Kidney disease means your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood the way they should. Those with diabetes or high blood pressure are at greater risk of developing kidney disease.
Kidney problems include acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, kidney cysts, kidney stones, and kidney infections.
Kidney International® A single-arm phase 2 trial of an investigational RNA therapeutic targeting complement factor B (sefaxersen) for treatment of IgA nephropathy IgA nephropathy (IgAN) involves activation of the complement alternative pathway, contributing to kidney inflammation and disease progression. In this global, open-label phase 2 trial, patients with biopsy-confirmed IgAN received sefaxersen, an antisense inhibitor of complement factor B, to...
In Japan, the art of kintsugi repairs broken pottery with adhesive and powdered gold, transforming fracture into renewed strength. As the global kidney care community prepares to gather in Yokohama for WCN’26, Japan’s approach to kidney health offers a compelling parallel: working with impairment to preserve function, extending quality of life in an aging society, and continuously strengthening systems of care through early detection and...
Looking to strengthen your confidence in diagnosing and managing glomerular diseases? The ISN Primer Course in Glomerular Diseases offers an intensive, case-based learning experience designed to sharpen clinical decision-making and connect you with international faculty and peers. Applications are now open for the next edition of the course in Montevideo, Uruguay, from August 8–9, 2026. Find...
From Africa to East Asia, ISN leaders are engaging with regional kidney care communities this March, sharing expertise, training opportunities, and strengthening connections that help advance equitable kidney care worldwide. Ethiopian Kidney Association’s 2nd Annual Nephrology Conference March 7, 2026 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Robert Walker, chair of the ISN Core Programs Committee, will present virtually on ISN Grants, outlining pathways for ISN members to access support and build local capacity. Japan Kidney Masterclass March 7, 2026 Tokyo, Japan Hosted by the Japanese Society of Nephrology, the masterclass will...
Do you have a clinical research question on how to improve kidney care in your region? The ISN Clinical Research Program (CRP) helps clinicians turn local priorities into publishable evidence, providing funding and support to launch meaningful studies. Applicants must submit a short abstract to the relevant ISN Regional Coordinator by March 1. Find out more and apply Rumbidzai Dahwa received a CRP grant in 2017 to study the prevalence...
Virtual registration brings the World Congress of Nephrology 2026 straight to you, no matter where you are. As a virtual delegate, you get access to live streaming of all 13 sessions in the Main Hall (Plenary Hall) from March 28–31, with live transcriptions in Japanese and English and more than 50 other languages. You will also have access to over 100 hours of...
Every nephrologist has encountered a case that stayed with them, one that challenged assumptions, raised new questions, or changed how they approach care. Turning that experience into a case report is not about including every detail, but about sharing the clinical lesson that others can apply. Submit your case report to KICR Kidney International Case Reports™...
For many nephrologists, an ISN Fellowship is more than advanced training; it is a turning point in what becomes possible for patients and kidney care teams back home. “The ISN Fellowship program represented a pivotal moment in my professional journey,” reflects Christina Amira (Nigeria), ISN Fellow from 2003–2004. “Upon returning to my home country, I successfully established a...
How will you support kidney health and sustainability this World Kidney Day? With kidney disease affecting millions worldwide and environmental factors such as heat, pollution, and access to clean water increasingly shaping risk, this year’s theme, “Kidney Health for All: Caring for People, Protecting the Planet,” calls for prevention, early detection, and care models that are people-centered and planet-conscious. Read...
Kidney International® A randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of pravastatin on kidney disease outcomes in adult patients with early-stage autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease This randomized, double-blind trial evaluated whether pravastatin could slow disease progression in adults with early autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and preserved kidney function. Researchers followed 150 participants receiving pravastatin or a placebo...
Who can access the evidence that informs practice, and how quickly does that evidence reach the bedside? As Kidney International Reports® (KIR) celebrates its 10th anniversary throughout 2026, these two questions are as pertinent as ever for clinicians and researchers working in kidney care. Reflections from KIR’s Editor-in-Chief Jai Radhakrishnan and Deputy Editor Sumit Mohan highlight how the journal’s editorial decisions, including a commitment to open access and a focus on practice-relevant research, have supported wider access...
What does it take to move from policy commitments to real improvements in kidney care, and how can those lessons be applied across regions? On March 28, 2026*, the Professor Donal O'Donoghue Global Kidney Policy Forum (PDOGKPF) will bring together policymakers, clinical leaders, and advocates to explore practical ways to strengthen kidney care systems in the ISN North and East Asia region, focusing on approaches that translate into measurable progress for patients. Held at the WCN'26 in...
After two decades of research, the causes of chronic kidney disease of undetermined etiology (CKDu) remain elusive. A new report from the ISN International Consortium of CKDu Collaborators (ISN i3C), published in Kidney International® (KI), suggests the challenge lies not only in what is unknown but also in how CKDu has been studied to date. Read the full report in KI The authors point to inconsistent terminology,...
Speakers and moderators at the ISN Expert Forum on B cell targeting in glomerular disease What do clinicians and researchers need to know about B cell biology and targeting as options for glomerular disease continue to evolve? From January 29-31, 111 experts from 27 countries gathered in Seville, Spain, for the ISN Expert Forum on B Cell Targeting in Glomerular Disease: A New...
Early detection of kidney disease is critical to preventing complications and improving outcomes. Yet, in many settings, non-physician healthcare professionals are the first and sometimes only point of contact for at-risk populations. A new ISN Academy curriculum, Empowering Non-Physician Healthcare Workers: Early Kidney Disease Detection and Care, aims to strengthen frontline kidney care by equipping non-physician healthcare professionals with practical, accessible...
ISN Interventional Nephrology Training Centers (INTCs) are a growing network of institutions providing essential hands-on training in procedures such as central venous and peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion, helping nephrologists to provide better care for dialysis patients in low- and middle-income countries. The ISN is pleased to announce the approval of 10 new INTCs: Greece: Attikon University Hospital of Athens Mexico: Hospital Civil De Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde Malaysia: Hospital Kuala Lumpur Saudi Arabia: King...
Case reports are often where progress begins. A single patient, an unexpected presentation, a practical clinical lesson that sharpens judgment and sparks discussion, ultimately leading to improved understanding and care. With the recent launch of the ISN’s new fully open-access journal, Kidney International Case Reports™ (KICR)*, there has never been a better time to share bedside observations with the global kidney care community. Submit a...
How can the UN political declaration commitments translate into real change for people living with circulatory conditions? The 2025 United Nations political declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) sets out renewed global commitments to tackle premature deaths from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and other NCDs. Kidney disease is both a consequence and a driver of circulatory...
The ISN and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, formalizing a long-term collaboration to strengthen global action on diabetes-related kidney disease. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease, and together these conditions affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Recognizing their shared risk factors and growing global burden, the ISN and the IDF...
Across the kidney care community, there are individuals whose work consistently sets standards — advancing research, strengthening education, and leading clinical innovation. These are people whose expertise is trusted, whose leadership shapes practice, and whose contributions extend well beyond their own institutions. Formal recognition does not always keep pace with the scale or reach of this...
