{"id":52805,"date":"2026-03-12T13:21:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T13:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/?page_id=52805"},"modified":"2026-04-17T15:23:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T15:23:37","slug":"isn-i3c-ckdu-toolkit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/initiatives\/toolkits\/isn-i3c-ckdu-toolkit\/","title":{"rendered":"ISN i3C (CKDu) Toolkit"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This toolkit provides practical guidance for conducting high-quality, community-centered research on chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu).<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_row_inner content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″ offset=”vc_col-xs-3″ css=”.vc_custom_1773231936451{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”53164″ img_size=”80×80″ alignment=”right” css=”.vc_custom_1774542544003{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3\/4″ offset=”vc_col-xs-9″][vc_column_text el_class=”top-boxes”]<\/p>\n

Objectives of the ISN i3C CKDu Toolkit<\/a><\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_row_inner content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″ offset=”vc_col-xs-3″ css=”.vc_custom_1773231990513{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”53163″ img_size=”80×80″ alignment=”right”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3\/4″ offset=”vc_col-xs-9″][vc_column_text el_class=”top-boxes”]How to use this toolkit?<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_row_inner content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″ offset=”vc_col-xs-3″ css=”.vc_custom_1773232018538{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”53166″ img_size=”80×80″ alignment=”right”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3\/4″ offset=”vc_col-xs-9″][vc_column_text el_class=”top-boxes”]Who is it for?<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1774521523195{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}” el_class=”top-links”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_row_inner content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″ offset=”vc_col-xs-3″ css=”.vc_custom_1773231936451{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”53162″ img_size=”80×80″ alignment=”right” css=”.vc_custom_1774542577584{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3\/4″ offset=”vc_col-xs-9″][vc_column_text el_class=”top-boxes”]<\/p>\n

Global equity & multi-regional applicability<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_row_inner content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″ offset=”vc_col-xs-3″ css=”.vc_custom_1773231990513{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”53165″ img_size=”80×80″ alignment=”right”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3\/4″ offset=”vc_col-xs-9″][vc_column_text el_class=”top-boxes”]Study stages<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1773921369550{margin-bottom: 35px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Objectives of the ISN i3C CKDu Toolkit<\/h3>\n

The ISN i3C (CKDu) Toolkit aims to equip investigators, clinicians\u2019 community partners, and policymakers with harmonized sets of practical ethnically grounded methods to support high-quality CKDu research across diverse global contexts. Drawing on evidence synthesized and community engagement insights, the toolkit promotes consistent study design, standardized case definitions, and robust exposure and outcome measurements.<\/p>\n

A central objective is to strengthen research capacity in CKDu-endemic regions. This involves providing guidance for developing laboratory and pathology infrastructure, adopting validated biomarkers where feasible, and implementing biorepository practices to support multidisciplinary and culturally sensitive community engagement, ensuring that CKDu-affected communities are partners in the research process.<\/p>\n

The toolkit supports global data comparability by promoting the minimum dataset recommended by the i3C working group and offering practical templates for field procedures, sample collection, data management, and reporting. By enhancing methodological rigor and consistency, the toolkit seeks to accelerate scientific discovery, facilitate equitable collaboration, and generate actionable evidence for clinical practice, occupational health, and public policy.
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\nThe toolkit integrates research methods with real-world conditions, enabling field teams to conduct rigorous studies that respect and empower communities affected by CKDu.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1773921353553{margin-bottom: 35px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

How to use this toolkit?<\/h3>\n

This toolkit provides structured, step-by-step guidance for the design, implementation, analysis, and dissemination of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) research globally. It consolidates advanced methodologies from the ISN i3C\u2019s principal publications, including:<\/p>\n