Initiatives

Group photo Summit VancouverThis week, ISN convened a meeting with global kidney experts to develop a new, cohesive approach to tackling the global epidemic of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The ISN Global Kidney Health Summit, the first meeting of its kind, took place in Vancouver, Canada from July 26 to 28, 2016 and gathered the international community to develop a global strategy or ‘blueprint’ to address the challenges of CKD over the next 5 to 10 years.



Wednesday, 20 July 2016 11:06


Coming up: The ISN Global Kidney Health Summit




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Next week, ISN will convene a meeting of global kidney experts to develop a new and cohesive approach to tackling the global epidemic of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The ISN Global Kidney Health Summit, the first meeting of its kind, will take place in Vancouver from July 26 to 28, 2016.

During the holy month of Ramadan, the majority of health care professionals wonder what advice to give Muslim patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

In its continued partnership with Cochrane Kidney and Transplant, ISN Education is pleased to announce that the spoken podcast for the Cochrane Library is now available in Russian. You can now find out more about corticosteroid therapy for nephrotic syndrome on ISN Education.



Monday, 13 June 2016 14:28


This week in ISN Education




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This week ISN Education brings a collection of presentations from ISN leaders on the topic of Acute Kidney Injury that were presented within the context of recent Continuing Medical Education programs in Indonesia and Mexico.

On June 5th, 2016, ISN joined leading health organizations in signing the Mexico Declaration on Circulatory Health for All People.

ERA PRToday three major nephrology societies — the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the European Renal Association – European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA), and the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) ― signed a declaration of collaboration.

On March 10th, 2016, the world stepped up to raise awareness about kidney health in younger generations.

Kidney International (KI) has now reported on the success of the ISN ANIO Online Clinical Nephropathology Certificate (CNC) Program as an innovative form of training for renal pathologists globally.

Organ transplantation is the best and frequently the only life-saving treatment for end-stage organ failure. According to the WHO, almost 80,000 kidney transplants were performed globally in 2013.

Although impressive, it is estimated that the activity represents less than 10% of the global need. This situation of acute organ shortage has come with its own set of challenges for kidney donors, recipients and doctors, as has the emergence of organ trafficking, a practice that continues to take place in some countries.

Cases of unethical living and deceased kidney donation are still reported in countries like Egypt, India, Mexico, beatriz gilPakistan, the Philippines and Turkey.

Beatriz Domínguez-Gil, who co-chairs the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG) explains the legal, ethical and clinical implications of transplant tourism. In the home country of patients who illicitly obtained an organ overseas, doctors face a guessing game in caring for them. They have no medical reports and cannot refer to a reliable healthcare professional about the procedure.

“Transplant tourism can also become a threat to public health,” she explains as patients also risk bringing in unexpected infections.

The DICG was set up in 2010 after the establishment of the Declaration of Istanbul (DOI) on organ traffi cking and transplant tourism in 2008. The DOI has helped to defi ne organ commercialization and traffi cking, as well as transplant tourism, and its principles have visibly raised awareness among the world’s medical practitioners about illegal organ transplantation.

The DICG has put a strategic plan into place until 2018 to focus on key issues regarding transplantation and set up local strategies to improve ethical transplantation availability in specific countries. It also aims to provide much-needed guidance on travel and
transplantation.

“Doctors do not want to report or compromise their patients. Our objective is to give them the tools to help their patients without compromising vulnerable living donors,” adds Elmi Muller, who leads the DICG with Domínguez-Gil.

A workshop organized in Madrid from April 4 to 5, 2016 also focused on creating a potential registration database for these cases. With representatives from 26 countries, this meeting continued to make the medical community aware of irresponsible commercial networks that should be criminalized.

Elmi Muller believes “practices are changing from day to day.”

The DOI has already inspired changes in legislation. For example, in Israel, legislation was modifi ed to defi ne the meaning of travel for transplantation, which led to banning health insurance companies from reimbursing illegal transplant procedures.

The law was also amended in The Philippines, decreasing the number of foreigners heading to the country for illegal transplantation procedures.

Closely collaborating with the The Tranplantation Society (TTS) and the Chinese government, DICG has worked to put a stop to the use of executed prisoners’ organs for transplantation in China. In Costa Rica, the DICG was critical in dismantling an organ trafficking ring.

According to Muller, improvements in deceased donation are being described in several countries in South elmiEastern Europe (under the leadership of Croatia), Latin America and in the Middle East.

In less than two years, the DOI will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Domínguez-Gil explains that the text and defi nitions will be updated in the same way as the Declaration of Helsinki, (created by the World Medical Association as a statement of ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects) gets updated regularly.

A fitting tribute to the dedicated efforts of this international group of medical professionals who continuously ensure the safety of all kidney transplants patients worldwide.

Read about the Declaration of Istanbul

On World Kidney Day (WKD) 2016, ISN and The Lancet launched an online campaign to raise awareness of kidney disease aimed at the international health community.

The ISN Renal Disaster Relief Task Force (RDRTF) has released its first report following the earthquake that struck Ecuador on April 17, 2016.

The ISN Advancing Clinical Trials (ISN-ACT) group is a new ISN Initiative to leverage existing infrastructures within ISN to improve how the global nephrology community conducts and participates in clinical trial research, through a series of activities and initiatives.



Monday, 18 April 2016 14:33


The Global Kidney Health Atlas




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The Global Kidney Health Atlas (GKHA), part of the ISN Closing The Gaps CKD initiative, is co-chaired by Professor David Johnson (University of Queensland, Australia) and Dr Aminu Bello (University of Alberta, Canada). The purpose is to systematically evaluate the current state of readiness, capacity and competence for delivering kidney health care globally.



Thursday, 14 April 2016 10:12


The Lancet publishes AKI Global Snapshot results




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0by25 Cover1The outcome of the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Global Snapshot, an innovative web-based global cohort study carried out under the ISN 0by25 Initiative, is published in The Lancet today.

homepage march 9 webThis World Kidney Day, The Lancet and ISN are launching an online campaign to raise awareness of acute and chronic kidney diseases and bring together the best available evidence to inform strategies to the reduce national, regional and global burden of the disease and its risk factors.



Tuesday, 15 March 2016 08:58


H4KH grant winners announced




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isn h4kh logoFollowing the call for applications, the Hydration for Kidney Health (H4KH) Committee is happy to announce the names of those who have been selected for the New Investigator and Hydration and Kidney Health grants.

Vincent Garvey 1Vincent Garvey has been awarded the Affordable Dialysis Prize, taking home US$100,000 for his innovative design. Garvey’s dialysis system can fit into a small suitcase and uses a standard solar panel to power a highly-efficient, miniature distiller capable of producing pure water from any source. Work on a prototype is now underway, with sponsorship opportunities actively being sought.

The Aristide Le Dantec hospital in Dakar hosted a dialysis workshop with the Senegal Society of Nephrology. Peritoneal and hemodialysis were the main focus. A Saving Young Lives (SYL) session presented the challenges and opportunities of setting up an AKI treatment program in Western Africa, while it emphasized the value of peritoneal dialysis (PD). 

WKD 2016This year’s World Kidney Day (WKD) campaign emphasizes the importance of following kidney function and blood pressure in children and babies.

In partnership with Cochrane Kidney and Transplant, ISN Education is pleased to present new Cochrane Library materials on Corticosteroids for nephrotic syndrome in children.

The ISN-ANIO India Committee called for young nephrologists and diabetologists (both junior faculty and physicians in specialist training) working in India to submit research projects focused on diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

This week ISN Education is proud to present a new research article published from the Global Outreach Postings (GOP) Program.

pope francis higher resFrancis Delmonico, Senior Advisor to the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG), has been appointed to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. ISN would like to congratulate him on this great achievement.

Dr Rennke kidney pathologist looking at kidney biopsies with a fellow and three visiting pathologist from Europe Asia and South AmericaThe International Society of Nephrology Renal Pathology Committee seeks applications for one mini-sabbatical for a nephropathologist from a developing country* to provide partial support for short term in-depth study of renal pathology, by immersion in an established expert renal pathology laboratory for up to two weeks, in conjunction with attendance at a major renal pathology course (see below).



Sunday, 07 February 2016 13:38


2016 DICG Board of Councilors and news updates




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The Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group’s (DICG) Board of Councilors has come to its annual transition-point. A third group of Councilors have completed their second three-year term and new members have now joined for a new term. Find out more and also get a roundup of the group’s latest activities.

raynerbookISN Education has released four free chapters of Understanding Kidney Diseases by Hugh Rayner, Mark Thomas and David Milford.

refugee webThe ISN Renal Disaster Relief Task Force (RDRTF) is looking to gather information relating to the current refugee crisis and kidney patients. Take part in this short survey to gather data on patient care.

logo UHCOn December 12, 2015 – Universal Health Coverage Day – ISN will join a growing global coalition calling for more progress to deliver Universal Health Coverage (UHC), including in kidney care.

Dr Kumar EAP fellowsThe ISN-ANIO India Committee is calling for young nephrologists and diabetologists (both junior faculty and physicians in specialist training) working in India to submit research projects focused on diabetic kidney disease (DKD).



Wednesday, 25 November 2015 12:34


New ISN Education videos from the Pathology Committee




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renal pathologyISN Education is excited to put forward two videos on pathology tissue handling produced by Surya Seshan and her Electron Microscopy laboratory team at Weill Cornell Medicine.

h4hNovember 30, 2015 is the deadline to apply for the Hydration for Kidney Health research initiative (H4KH).



Sunday, 01 November 2015 14:52


0by25 initiative sessions during ASN Kidney Week




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0by25 Cover1ISN will have its usual presence at ASN Kidney Week this November. This will be an opportunity to share more information about the 0by25 initiative with the nephrology community in a couple of AKI dedicated sessions.

We raise awareness about drinking plenty of water to keep our kidneys in shape. However, hydration and kidney health is an important research area that needs more support worldwide.



Monday, 26 October 2015 14:42


ISN-ANIO India Committee Program deadlines




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YNC indiaThe deadline to apply for the ISN-ANIO Apprenticeship and Research (Diabetic Kidney disease) Programs is fast approaching. You can send your application for either program by December 15, 2015.



Monday, 26 October 2015 10:43


Evidence, awareness… action!



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ISN 0by25 initiative steps up the fight against AKI



Monday, 28 September 2015 15:39


World Kidney Day announces theme for campaign 2016




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WKD 2016We are delighted to announce that “Kidney Disease & Children: Act early to prevent it!” is the theme for the 2016 World Kidney Day campaign.

kidney hydrationDanone Nutricia Research and ISN have created the Hydration for Kidney Health Research (H4KH) Initiative to stimulate the interest of both established and new researchers to explore the role of hydration in kidney health. Applications are open until November 30, 2015.



Thursday, 03 September 2015 16:20


Survey on Sex Hormones in Chronic Kidney Disease




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Univ CalgaryThis international survey is looking to examine the views of nephrologists, nephrology nurses and nephrology technologists on sex hormones in women with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).



Wednesday, 26 August 2015 08:53


Finding purpose outside the day job



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Becoming a volunteer reveals how a little help can go a long way when it comes to medical communities in need.

A training course on peritoneal dialysis (PD) at the Noura Children’s center, Soba University Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan is helping doctors in Uganda set up their own PD program.



Wednesday, 08 July 2015 11:13


ISN steps up in the fight against AKI




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0by25 Cover1Since the launch of the 0by25 initiative in 2013, ISN is now focusing on gathering evidence, building awareness and taking action.

livebroadcastISN Education webinars are a great was to stay up to date with the latest in nephrology. They are also a great way to spark discussion with others working in the field. Registration is now open to join the latest webinars in July and August.

WKD 2015 left imgWorld Kidney Day (WKD) 2015 raised awareness about the importance of kidney health in reducing the impact of kidney disease and its associated problems worldwide. Over 560 events were organized in more than 90 countries, including Algeria, New Caledonia, Chad and Ivory Coast. The most active nations were the UK, India, Brazil, Spain, Indonesia, Argentina, and Mexico.

SYL Sudan 1A training course on peritoneal dialysis (PD) at the Noura Children’s center, Soba University Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan is helping doctors in Uganda set up their own PD program.



Wednesday, 06 May 2015 14:01


Nepal earthquake: latest update from ISN RDRTF




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The ISN Renal Disaster Relief Task Force (RDRTF) has released its latest update on supporting doctors in Nepal after the earthquake hit the region.



Tuesday, 05 May 2015 12:37


ISN position statement on CKDu




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ISN has released a position statement on the epidemics of chronic kidney disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu). CKDu has become a worldwide concern. ISN supports scientific and educational efforts to improve its outcome.

Nepal earthquakeThe ISN Renal Disaster Relief Task Force (RDRTF) is putting together a small team of nurses and nephrologists to dispatch necessary care for dialysis patients, helping local medical staff focus on growing patient care. They will also raise awareness about crush syndrome and recognizing patients at risk.

Nepal earthquakeFollowing the earthquake in Nepal, Wim Van Biesen, Chairman of the ISN Renal Disaster Relief Task Force (RDRTF), has sent out the first communication report.

WKD 2015 left imgAfter a great World Kidney Day (WKD) on March 13, 2015, the WKD team would like to thank all participants for making this 10th edition really special.

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