How should clinicians recognize, assess, and manage acute kidney injury (AKI) linked to infections commonly encountered in tropical settings? 

A new ISN Academy course, “Acute Kidney Injury in the Tropics,” offers a focused review of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention of infection-related AKI, with practical guidance relevant to both adult and pediatric care. 

Explore the course  

Through eight online modules, participants will explore AKI associated with malaria, scrub typhus, dengue, yellow fever, leptospirosis, Ebola virus, HIV, and diarrheal illnesses. Each module includes a 30-minute expert presentation followed by multiple-choice questions to reinforce learning. 

The course will conclude with a live interactive webinar in a roundtable format, allowing participants to discuss real case scenarios with experts and peers. 

Register for the ISN Webinar “Tropical infections and the kidney: presentation, pitfalls, and prevention,” on Wednesday, November 18 at 15:00 CET. 

 

 

Speakers and delegates at the International Expert Forum: Complement Therapeutics in Clinical Practice in Kidney Disease in Singapore

As complement therapeutics expand across kidney diseases, how should clinicians decide when to use them, how to monitor response, and when to change or stop treatment? 

From September 16-18, 113 experts from 32 countries gathered in Singapore for the ISN International Expert Forum: Complement Therapeutics in Clinical Practice in Kidney Disease to examine these questions and other challenges in using complement-targeting therapies in clinical practice. 

The program covered current evidence for complement therapeutics in aHUS, C3G/IC-MPGN, IgAN, and ANCA-associated vasculitis. It also explored the role of complement in FSGS, diabetic nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, and lupus nephritis. In addition, discussions addressed optimal combination therapies and priorities for future clinical trials.  

The ISN International Expert Forum series brings together leading experts from around the world to examine recent developments, areas of debate, and unmet needs in focused areas of kidney care, helping connect emerging evidence with questions arising in clinical practice. 

The ISN thanks the steering committee, speakers, moderators, and attendees, as well as the event supporters: Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, Novartis, Biogen, Novo Nordisk, Otsuka, Roche, Sobi, Kira Pharmaceuticals, Bisirna, and Sitala.

 

New complement-targeting treatments are changing the therapeutic landscape for C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), primary immune-complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN), and IgA nephropathy (IgAN), raising important questions about how to use them in clinical practice. To explore these questions, the ISN convened the 2025 ISN Expert Forum on Complement Therapeutics in C3G & IgAN. 

Read the meeting report in Kidney International® 

The forum brought together global experts to review current evidence, identify areas of uncertainty, and consider how complement inhibitors could fit into treatment approaches. Key questions include how complement biomarkers, genetics, and kidney biopsy findings can guide therapy, along with priorities for future research.
 

Explore the ISN’s latest resources on rare kidney diseases 

IgA Nephropathy Curriculum 

ISN Rare Diseases Toolkit 

Cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity are closely interconnected, yet care is often delivered through separate clinical pathways.

In October 2025, the ISN convened the ISN International Expert Forum, “Exploring the Nexus of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Health,” to examine how a more integrated CKM approach could improve prevention, treatment, and care delivery. The resulting meeting report has now been published in Kidney International^®.

Read the meeting report in Kidney International®

A global, multidisciplinary group of experts examined CKM risk stratification, lifestyle interventions, guideline-directed therapies, emerging treatments, and models of care.
Participants emphasized the need for earlier case finding, combined kidney and cardiovascular risk assessment over time, and timely use of evidence-informed therapies to reduce kidney disease progression, kidney failure, and cardiovascular events.

The report also highlights persistent barriers, including therapeutic inertia, fragmented care, and inequities in access, while pointing to multidisciplinary and system-level models that could help translate evidence into practice more effectively. 

Explore the ISN CKM initiative for resources and tools supporting a shared approach to cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health across disciplines and regions. 

 

Faculty and delegates at the ISN Primer Course in Glomerular Diseases in Montevideo, Uruguay 

ISN members had the opportunity to strengthen their clinical and diagnostic expertise through two focused ISN Primer Courses* held in Montevideo, Uruguay, in August 2026. 

The ISN Primer Course in Glomerular Diseases offered participants the chance to explore real-world approaches to managing glomerular diseases through expert-led, case-based discussions.[

At the ISN Primer Course in Renal Pathology, participants gained practical experience in kidney biopsy interpretation for key native and transplant kidney diseases. 

Look out for future editions of these courses. 

Faculty and delegates at the ISN Primer Course in Renal Pathology in Montevideo, Uruguay 

 

Further training opportunities in glomerular diseases 

The ISN also offers a specialized fellowship opportunity in glomerular disease training, supported through a partnership with Otsuka Pharmaceutical.  

Read a first-hand account of an ISN Fellowship in Glomerular Diseases 

Find out more and apply by October 1 

*The ISN Primer Course in Glomerular Diseases was supported by Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease and Otsuka.

The ISN Primer Course in Renal Pathology was supported by Otsuka. 

 

The ISN Transplantation Working Group is developing a series of concise expert perspectives on published literature to help clinicians, researchers, and policymakers engage with emerging transplant evidence in a practical and accessible way. The commentaries highlight key clinical and practical implications, global relevance, and lessons for different healthcare settings.

Read the first commentary

The first commentary is on the paper “The potential of kidney transplantation to reduce mortality from chronic kidney disease: a global, cross-sectional, modeling study,” published in The Lancet, which examines data from 203 countries and territories to assess the relationship between national kidney replacement therapy rates, income level, chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence, and CKD-related mortality.

The expert commentary considers what the study’s findings may mean for global kidney care, particularly the role of transplantation in improving CKD outcomes at a population level. It also reflects on why expanding access to safe and ethical kidney transplantation should remain a priority in efforts to reduce the global burden of CKD.

Look out for further expert commentaries highlighting important conversations in transplantation, from equitable access and long-term outcomes to sex and gender disparities in transplant care.

Join or renew your ISN membership to access the full Academy library. 

ISN membership brings you year-long access to continuous learning.  The ISN Academy offers expert-led courses, webinars, and resources to help kidney professionals keep pace with evolving practice, build confidence in complex topics, and support better care. 

Start with one of the Academy’s top-performing resources and learn at your own pace: 

• Strengthen your knowledge at the intersection of cancer and kidney care:
  Take the WCN’26: Onco-Nephrology Course 

• Understand how genetics is changing nephrology practice:
  Explore the ISN Genetics Curriculum

• Help improve early detection and care beyond the specialist setting:
  Follow the Empowering Non-Physician Healthcare Workers: Early Kidney Disease Detection and Care Curriculum

• Care for patients with CKD before, during, or after pregnancy:
  Tune in to the SLANH-ISN Webinar: 8 tips que el nefrólogo debe saber sobre embarazo y ERC (in Spanish)

• Sharpen your approach to ADPKD diagnosis and risk stratification:
  Watch the ISN-PKDF Webinar: Early Diagnosis and Risk Stratification in ADPK

• Explore what AI could mean for nephrology:
  Listen to Matthias Kretzler on Nephrology and AI

• Follow advances in glomerular disease:
  Discover the video cases in the IgA Nephropathy Curriculum 

Explore hundreds of hours of expert-led content on the ISN Academy. 

“If a drug improves creatinine but makes a patient too fatigued to work, that’s a safety signal we might be missing.” 

How can nephrology translate recent advances in research into better outcomes for people with kidney diseases? 

In the second episode of the ISN PARADIGM in Clinical Trials podcast series, drawing on insights from the Consensus Meeting on Changing Paradigms of Studies in CKD, host Hiddo Heerspink is joined by David Wheeler, Kevin Weinfurt, and Adeera Levin to explore four key areas shaping the future of kidney research: innovative trial designs, hierarchical composite endpoints, stakeholder engagement, and practical strategies for implementation. 

Listen to the episode 

The discussion examines how approaches such as adaptive, platform, basket, and umbrella trials could improve efficiency and accelerate research, particularly in rare kidney diseases. Experts also discuss emerging endpoint strategies that may better capture disease progression and ensure that more patients contribute meaningfully to trial outcomes. 

A recurring theme is the importance of engaging patients alongside clinicians, regulators, and other stakeholders throughout the research process. As Kevin Weinfurt notes, understanding how treatments affect daily life is essential to evaluating their true benefit: “If a drug improves creatinine but makes a patient too fatigued to work, that’s a safety signal we might be missing.” 

Listen to the episode to learn how experts are rethinking kidney clinical trials to make research more efficient, inclusive, and patient-centered. 

Further reading

Rethinking kidney trials: The ISN’s PARADIGM roadmap moves into action 

 

Why does chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu) remain so difficult to define, study, and prevent? In this episode, experts from the ISN i3C Working Group unpack the research gaps that continue to slow progress and discuss what is needed to move the field forward. 

Ben Caplin, Magdalena Madero, Eranga Wijewickrama, and Shuchi Anand* highlight gaps in terminology, study design, and data collection, and question whether current research approaches are asking the right questions. 

Listen to the podcast 

The episode builds on a recent Kidney International® article from the ISN i3C Working Group, “Taking the ‘unknown’ out of CKDu — optimizing approaches to uncover the cause(s) of epidemic-level kidney disease in low- and middle-income settings: a report from the ISN’s International Consortium of CKDu Collaborators (ISN i3C).“  

The team also developed the ISN i3C CKDu Toolkit, launched at WCN’26. Designed to strengthen research capacity in CKDu-endemic regions, it supports more consistent study design and implementation, helping teams generate stronger evidence and move the field closer to clearer answers.

*Ben Caplin (UK) is the ISN i3C Working Group chair; Magdalena Madero (Mexico) is the ISN i3C Working Group deputy chair; Eranga Wijewickrama (Sri Lanka) and Shuchi Anand (United States) are ISN i3C Working Group members.

 

From unmet needs in immune-mediated kidney diseases to therapeutic advances in C3G, WCN’26 Industry Sessions explored some of the most pressing topics in global kidney care today. Session recordings are open access and available on demand at the ISN Academy. 

Explore all industry symposia at the ISN Academy 

Discover dozens of sessions offering fresh perspectives on emerging science and new developments to help you stay up to date and support the best possible outcomes for your patients. 

As kidney care moves toward earlier molecular diagnosis and more precise treatment strategies, genomic insights are becoming increasingly relevant to everyday practice. Reflecting this shift, the newest ISN Academy Genetics Curriculum modules focus on topics ranging from congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract to apolipoprotein L1 nephropathy. 

Explore the ISN Genetics Curriculum 

The curriculum also features five CME-accredited modules on core introductory topics. 

Together, these modules can help you translate new knowledge and technologies into better outcomes for your patients. 

Developed by the ISN Education Working Group and led by Becky Ma and Anuja Java, these recorded lectures and expert roundtable discussions support clinicians in understanding when genetic testing may be useful, how results can inform diagnosis and management, and where genetics is reshaping care. 

Listen to the first roundtable discussion featured on an episode of the ISN Global Kidney Care Podcast 

Explore all ISN Academy resources  

References 

Genetics in chronic kidney disease: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference  

The genetics and pathogenesis of CAKUT 

 

 

The ISN’s new IgA Nephropathy Curriculum delivers timely, practice-focused insights to help you integrate emerging evidence into care and optimize outcomes.

Access the curriculum at the ISN Academy

The curriculum is organized into three core areas of IgAN: pathogenesis, treatment, and prediction. Each section features in-depth conversations with David Wheeler, Jonathan Barret, and Michelle O’Shaughnessy, conducted by members of the ISN Education Working Group.

The discussions are followed by two to three case presentations that translate expert perspectives into clinical scenarios, supporting nuanced decision-making across diverse patient profiles.

Watch, listen, and explore the curriculum at the ISN Academy, and share it with colleagues and trainees.

Looking to deepen your learning even further? Today, March 23, 2026, is the last day to apply for the latest edition of the ISN Primer Course in Glomerular Diseases, taking place in Montevideo, Uruguay, on August 8–9, 2026.

The ISN IgAN curriculum is supported by Otsuka

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 Era in Treatment, a focused exchange on current evidence, emerging approaches, and unmet needs in this rapidly developing area.  

Through a series of in-depth and interactive sessions, kidney care experts were joined by specialists from related disciplines, including rheumatology, immunology, and hematology-oncology. This cross-disciplinary exchange enriched discussions on B cell biology and function, methods for assessing B cell activity, and therapeutic applications. Discussions also addressed the state of B cell targeting in glomerular disease and key questions shaping future research and clinical practice. 

The ISN Expert Forum is one of the ways the ISN drives quality improvements in kidney care through connecting its community with the latest research, therapies, expertise and networking opportunities.  

The ISN thanks the steering committee, speakers, moderators, and attendees, as well as the event supporters, Vera Therapeutics, Otsuka, Jade Biosciences, Biogen, Novartis, Takeda, Alexion, Roche, and Climb Bio. 

 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 knowledge to identify early signs of chronic kidney disease and support timely referral. 

Explore the curriculum  

Developed by the ISN Emerging Leaders Program cohort 3, the course is delivered through short video modules in simple English, with brief knowledge checks and CME credits available upon completion. 

The ISN encourages the kidney community to share this practical curriculum with non–kidney care colleagues across their institutions. 

Additional resources 

Read the ISN Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) cohort 3 paper, “Expanding kidney care: How non-physician health workers can address the global CKD crisis” in Kidney International Reports®. 

 

Caring for women with chronic kidney disease (CKD) during pregnancy presents complex clinical challenges, spanning fertility, preconception counselling, pregnancy management, and postpartum care.  

The ISN Pregnancy and Kidney Disease Toolkit Curriculum* provides practical, evidence-based guidance to support confident decision-making in these scenarios — now accredited for 3 CME credits at the ISN Academy. 

Explore the curriculum 

The modules expand on the ISN Pregnancy and Kidney Disease Toolkit*, providing evidence-based learning for kidney care and other health professionals and supporting both individual study and effective teaching.  

Follow the curriculum to strengthen your approach to pregnancy and kidney disease, support better outcomes for patients planning a family, and earn CME credits that contribute to your ongoing professional development. 

Additional resources:
Podcast: ISN Train the Trainer Program for Pregnancy and Kidney Disease 

*The toolkit and curriculum were developed by the faculty and trainers of the ISN Train-the-Trainer Program for Pregnancy and Kidney Disease, led by Shilpanjali Jesudason (Australia) and Michelle Hladunewich (Canada). 

 

Genetic testing is rapidly reshaping kidney care — and nephrologists who understand when and how to use it can diagnose earlier, tailor treatment more precisely, and improve outcomes for patients and their families.  

Explore the Genetics Curriculum 

To help clinicians build this essential skill set, the ISN Academy has launched the Genetics Curriculum, an online program designed to make nephro-genetics practical, accessible, and directly relevant to daily clinical decision-making. 

Developed by the ISN Education Working Group, and led by Becky Ma and Anuja Java, the curriculum offers 11 recorded lectures, each accompanied by a roundtable discussion with global experts, providing clear explanations of genetic principles and their clinical applications. Current topics include: 

• Genetics for the nephrologist 

• Clinical utility of genetic testing in nephrology 

• Genetic basis of polycystic kidney disease and therapeutic options 

• Genetics of Alport syndrome 

• Complement-mediated kidney diseases 

The first roundtable discussion also features as an ISN podcast 

Additional modules covering focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, inherited renal tubulopathies, kidney stone disease, autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease, APOL1 nephropathy, and polygenic risk scores will be released soon. 

Renew your ISN membership or join today to access all ISN Academy resources — stay ahead in kidney care, sharpen your clinical skills, and improve patient outcomes with world-class education.

 

By YNC Chair Bianca Davidson 

Do you sometimes feel unsure when reading clinical research papers or meta-analyses? You’re not alone — recent surveys show that one of the biggest challenges reported by young nephrologists was limited training in research interpretation.  

That’s where the ISN Young Nephrologists Capacity Building Committee steps in. To support early-career professionals, the YNC committee launched the “Interpreting the Evidence Series”— and it’s working. Over 67% of participants reported initially lacking confidence in evaluating research studies. After completing the course, they reported a significant boost in understanding and analytical skills — and earned up to 4.5 CME credits along the way. 

Explore the series 

The course guides participants through the nuances of study design, potential publication biases, and the interpretation of pooled results. Each module comprises a 30-minute recorded lecture by experts on how to critically appraise: 

• Clinical trials  

• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses  

• Network meta-analyses 

This recent course adds to the “ISN YNC Curriculum: Basics of Statistics for a Successful Start in Clinical Research, and a series of “How to” lectures offering guidance on presenting work on academic platforms, including abstract writing, poster design, and oral presentation. These resources were created in response to recent survey findings identifying the main challenges for young nephrologists as securing research funding and accessing research training opportunities. 

The Interpreting the Evidence Series is a collaboration between the Young Nephrologists Committee (YNC) and the ISN Research Working Group. The Young Nephrologists Capacity Building Committee thanks all the experts and faculty who made this series possible: Stephanie Thompson, Yeoungjee Cho, and Giovanni Strippoli for recording the lectures, as well as Jonathan Barratt, Jonathan Craig, Rob Walker, and Giovanni Strippoli for their guidance during the live webinars. Their time, expertise, and dedication have created an invaluable learning resource for early-career nephrologists worldwide. 

 

 

A new cohort of trainees has been accepted into the program and will receive guidance from members of the inaugural cohort, now serving as faculty alongside senior mentors.  

The ISN Train-the-Trainer program in pregnancy and kidney diseases, led by Shilpa Jesudason (Australia) and Michelle Hladunewich (Canada), aims to build a robust network of professionals well-versed in the intricate relationship between pregnancy and kidney disease who can, in turn, train and educate future generations.  

Learn more about the program. 

The first cohort completed a series of curriculum-focused activities that culminated in the launch of the Pregnancy and Kidney Disease Toolkit at WCN’25. Dr. Jesudason and Dr. Hladunewich will present the session “Pregnancy and Kidney Disease: Rapid Fire Update!” at WCN’26. 

More resources 

Explore the Pregnancy and Kidney Disease Toolkit 

Listen to a podcast on the Train-the-Trainer program 

Follow the “ISN Pregnancy and Kidney Disease Toolkit Curriculum” at the ISN Academy 

For more information or to get involved in the Train-the-Trainer program, contact ebrigneti@theisn.org or education@theisn.org. 

 

How is climate change threatening kidney health? Winston Fung talks to Vivekanand Jha, Maryvonne Hourmant, and Letizia De Chiara to explore how kidney health is put at risk when access to medication and healthcare is disrupted due to extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and emerging infections. 

Listen to the episode 

They emphasize that early detection and intervention not only protect patients but also reduce the environmental footprint of healthcare. 

“In the healthcare business, the biggest adverse environmental impact comes when someone needs to visit a hospital. So, if you can prevent someone from needing to visit a hospital, you are already contributing to the fight against climate change.” – Vivekanand Jha 

 

More resources 

Find out more about the ISN GREEN-K Initiative 

Access the “ISN ELP-GREEN-K Initiative – Global Environmental Evolution in Nephrology and Kidney Care Curriculum” at the ISN Academy. 

 

 

 

People living with kidney disease and their families face difficult choices and uncertainty, highlighting the need for clear, compassionate guidance about treatment options. To support them, the ISN has developed an open-access video series to help patients and families understand supportive care, make informed choices, and access person-centered care throughout their kidney journey. 

Explore the video series  

The videos, presented by Kelly Li, explain how kidney supportive care can enhance quality of life and be integrated into existing treatments. They cover key aspects of care, including shared decision-making, symptom management, dialysis, transplantation, and end-of-life care. 

Continue learning about KSC and CKM 

Access the “Kidney Supportive Care and Conservative Kidney Management Curriculum” at the ISN Academy. 

Read a paper on the ISN’s commitment to CKM/KSC: “Conservative kidney management and kidney supportive care: Core components of integrated care for people with kidney failure” in Kidney International®  

Enjoy complimentary access to the “Conservative Kidney Management Course” when you register for WCN’26.