Ron T. Gansevoort
The Netherlands
Lillian Jean Kaplan Prize for PKD
The Lillian Jean Kaplan International Prize recognizes individuals for excellence and leadership in polycystic kidney disease (PKD) clinical or basic research whose seminal scientific work has advanced PKD knowledge and treatment.
Professor Ron T. Gansevoort is professor of medicine and a nephrologist at the University Medical Center (UMC)Groningen, the Netherlands. He is a former board member of the Dutch and European Renal Association and recipient of the UK Kidney Foundation Distinguished International Medal.
Professor Gansevoort’s work has been instrumental in drafting the definition and classification of chronic kidney disease (CKD), the development of novel endpoints for clinical trials in nephrology and establishing treatments for PKD. He is committed to getting more attention for screening for early CKD and prevention of progressive kidney function loss on a general population level, and specifically also in patients with ADPKD. At his institution, he established a PKD Expertise Center, that has now been acknowledged by the Dutch and European Union authorities, and that is known for its protocolled approach to treat chronic, intractable pain in patients with PKD, of which many have benefitted. His research group focuses on the development of novel biomarkers to help predict prognosis in patients with PKD.
Professor Gansevoort has co-authored over 800 peer reviewed manuscripts (h-index 107), supervised more than 40 Ph.D. theses, and helped establish several large consortia (e.g., the DIPAK Consortium for PKD Research, the ERACODA & RECOVAC Consortia for COVID-19 Research, and the CKD-Prognosis Consortium). He serves as a steering committee member of several clinical trials for PKD/ADPKD research such as TEMPO 3:4, REPRISE, DIPAK-1, STAGED-PKD, MANGROVE, AGAINST-PLD, HYDRO-PROTECT, and STOP-PKD.
Commenting on his award, Professor Gansevoort, says, “”I am truly honored to be awarded the 2026 Lillian Jean Kaplan Prize for PKD. Let it be clear that I see it as a recognition of a team effort. I am privileged to work with so many highly motivated and skilled people in our PKD Expert Center, as well as (inter)nationally. It is thanks to the commitment of these colleagues that I am able to receive this prize. I look forward to continuing our work together and to contribute further to the advancement of our field with the goal to improve prognosis and quality of life of patients with PKD.”
Professor Gansevoort will receive his award and deliver the scientific talk, “Disease modifying drugs for ADPKD: a rapidly evolving field,” in the WCN ISN-PKD Foundation Joint Session – the future of PKD research and care, on March 29, 2026, from 2:10 p.m. Japan Standard Time in Room 303.