Welcome to the ISN – Interdisciplinary Science of Nephrology website, accessible at https://www.isn-online.org/. ISN is dedicated to advancing the field of interdisciplinary renal science through high-quality, evidence-based science communication. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to be legally bound by these Terms of Use (“Terms”). If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use our website.
1. Use of the Website and Eligibility
Eligibility
To use our website, you must be at least 16 years old. By accessing the site, you confirm that you meet this age requirement and possess the legal capacity to accept these Terms.
Permitted Use
The ISN website is designed to allow users to access, read, and share summaries of nephrology research, explore expert insights, submit contributions, and engage with our interdisciplinary content, as outlined in our About Us section. You agree to use the website only for lawful, professional, and educational purposes consistent with our mission to promote scientific curiosity and accessibility in kidney health.
Prohibited Activities
When using our services, you agree not to:
- Reproduce, scrape, or distribute large portions of our content, graphical elements, or proprietary designs without our explicit written permission.
- Transmit spam, malicious code, viruses, or anything that could compromise the security, functionality, or performance of the website or other users’ systems.
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to ISN’s servers, databases, or restricted areas.
- Engage in any activity, including denial-of-service attacks or excessive automated querying, that interferes with the intended function or availability of the website.
- Use the content for unapproved commercial purposes or in a manner that falsely suggests endorsement by ISN or its affiliates.
2. Intellectual Property and Content
Ownership
All material on the ISN website, including articles, data summaries, infographics, branding (logos), design, and all multimedia components, is the property of ISN or its content licensors. This content is protected by international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
User Contributions
By submitting content (e.g., articles, commentaries, case studies, or letters) to ISN, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, reproduce, publish, modify, and display your contribution in connection with our mission and digital platform.
- Responsibility: You warrant that your submitted content is original and does not violate the intellectual property or proprietary rights of any third party.
- Attribution: Published contributions will receive proper author attribution (name and credentials) unless prior agreement for anonymity is reached.
- Editorial Right: We reserve the right to edit your submission for clarity, accuracy, and adherence to our jargon-free science communication style.
Transparency in Advertising
As an independent digital publication, we maintain full editorial independence. All content resulting from advertising or sponsorship is clearly and conspicuously labeled as such. We reserve the right to review, reject, or remove any advertisement that conflicts with our mission, ethical standards, or applicable laws.
3. Editorial and Scientific Guidelines
Submission Integrity
We encourage submissions that support our mission of making complex nephrology understandable and relevant. Submissions, whether technical reviews or patient-focused guides, must be evidence-based, scientifically sound, and adhere to the highest ethical standards.
Review Process
All submitted content undergoes a rigorous editorial and scientific review process led by our team of nephrologists and science communicators to ensure clarity, relevance, and accuracy. This process is distinct from formal peer review but serves to uphold the quality and integrity of our published material.
Plagiarism and Ethics
ISN maintains a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism, data fabrication, or any form of unethical scientific conduct. Authors are solely responsible for verifying the originality and ethical integrity of their work.
4. Partnerships and Sponsorship
Collaboration and Partnerships
ISN – Interdisciplinary Science of Nephrology welcomes strategic partnerships that reinforce our mission of bringing science together. We collaborate with leading academic centers, research consortia, bioengineering firms, as well as patient and public advocacy organizations within nephrology, cardiology, and related disciplines.
- Our Principle: All collaborations must align with our commitment to scientific rigor, our interdisciplinary focus, and complete editorial independence.
Sponsorship and Advertising
We offer limited opportunities for sponsorship and advertising that support our independent science journalism.
Advertising Requirements:
- Transparency: All advertisements and sponsored content (e.g., thematic sections on novel technologies or interviews with industry leaders) must be clearly and conspicuously labeled as “Sponsored Content” or “Advertisement.”
- Relevance: Advertising material must be relevant to our audience (researchers, clinicians, patients) and must not contain misleading information that contradicts current scientific standards.
- Code of Ethics: We reserve the right to reject or remove any advertisement that does not comply with ISN’s ethical standards or conflicts with our mission of promoting unbiased kidney science. Sponsors have absolutely no influence on our editorial decisions or article selection.
5. Limitation of Liability
The content provided on the ISN website is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. While we strive for accuracy, ISN does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of all information published.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, ISN, its affiliates, its contributors, and its employees shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the website or your reliance on the scientific information presented herein.
6. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, United States, without regard to its conflict of law principles. By using this website, you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Chicago, Illinois, for the resolution of any disputes.
7. Modifications to Terms
We reserve the exclusive right to update or change these Terms at any time. Any revisions will take effect immediately upon posting the updated document on the website. Your continued use of the website after such changes constitutes your binding acceptance of the revised Terms.
8. Contact Information
For any questions regarding these Terms of Use, content submissions, partnerships, or advertising, please contact the appropriate department below:
| Inquiry Type | Email Address |
| General & Legal | [email protected] |
| Editorial Submissions | [email protected] |
| Partnerships & Collaborations | [email protected] |
| Sponsorship | [email protected] |
| Advertising | [email protected] |
| Technical Support & Issues | [email protected] |
Headquarters: ISN – Interdisciplinary Science of Nephrology 150 S Wacker Dr Ste 2400 Chicago IL 60606 United States
By using the ISN website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms of Use.