APOL1 Kidney Disease (APOL1 KD) is a genetic condition that affects people who carry a high-risk APOL1 gene variant. Most people with those variants are of African ancestry.
Today, leaders from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) will meet with their congressional delegations and call for their support of an $8 million increase for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Organ Transplantation Program in FY 25 This funding, totaling $67 million, will be used to continue Congress’ commitment to people seeking a transplant and will implement reforms to modernize the transplant system and make transplant care more accessible.
Nature Reviews Nephrology published a landmark international consensus statement titled "Chronic Kidney Disease and the Global Public Health Agenda: An International Consensus." Authored by a coalition of leading experts, stakeholders, and nephrology societies, the publication highlights critical policy, advocacy, and implementation needs to alleviate the growing burden of kidney disease worldwide.
• Sedentary time decreased, stepping time increased, and number of steps per day increased among patients with chronic kidney disease assigned to the ‘Sit Less, Interact, Move More’ intervention.
• These effects were not sustained after 20 weeks, however.
Delivering on its commitment to increase Americans’ access to kidney transplant by improving the transparency and efficiency of our nation’s transplant network, Congress this week approved a much-needed $23 million federal funding increase in fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the agency responsible for overseeing the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and Home Dialysis University (HDU) launched a collaboration in 2023 to improve nephrology trainees’ knowledge, proficiency, and exposure to home dialysis therapies.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) commends congressional leaders on the House Ways and Means committee for advancing the Kidney PATIENT Act, bipartisan legislation to maintain patient access to oral-only medications by retaining coverage through Medicare Part D.
More than 500,000 patients undergoing dialysis require numerous medications to manage their health, and, for many patients this includes certain oral-only medications, such as phosphate binders. These vital oral-only medications are best dispensed by pharmacies, who have dedicated infrastructure suited to promoting at-home medication adherence and are more accessible to patients.
At a hearing today focused on supporting patients with rare diseases, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee will consider Honor Our Living Donors Act (H.R. 6020), legislation to improve support for living organ donors.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is pleased to announce that Deidra C. Crews, MD, ScM, FASN, will become the society’s next president. Dr. Crews, who succeeds Michelle A. Josephson, MD, FASN, will assume her new role on January 1, 2024.
Compared with kidney transplant recipients who did not receive sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, those treated with the medications had lower risks of experiencing kidney transplant failure, kidney transplant rejection, major adverse cardiac events, all-cause mortality, and genitourinary infections.
Results from the phase 3 SCORED trial indicate that sotagliflozin protects kidney and heart health in individuals with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
By examining the gene expression patterns of single cells from human fetal kidneys, researchers created a map that demonstrates the trajectories of cell states in the developing kidney and that identifies characteristics associated with kidney diseases.
Investigators have found demographic differences between participants of kidney transplant clinical trials and transplant recipients in the United States, even in recent years.
In a recent analysis of US data, Black patients with kidney failure experienced survival advantages compared with White patients when county-level structural racism was low, but they experienced survival disadvantages compared with White patients at higher levels of structural racism.
The results of numerous high-impact clinical trials that could affect kidney-related medical care will be presented in-person at ASN Kidney Week 2023 November 1–November 5.
Investigators found that in patients with diabetes and cancer, sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors were associated with a higher risk of diabetic ketoacidosis and fracture and a lower risk of acute kidney injury and urinary tract infection compared with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists.
• A tool that provides an automated prompt to physicians increased kidney disease screening in patients with type 2 diabetes.
• Results from the study will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2023 November 1–November 5.
Among individuals receiving in-center hemodialysis treatment in Washington, Oregon, and California, exposure to wildfire-related air pollution was associated with elevated risks of hospitalization and mortality.
Imaging tests in individuals with type 2 diabetes without symptoms of cardiovascular disease indicated that elevated albumin in the urine may be linked with sub-clinical coronary artery pathology, including coronary artery microcalcifications.
The American Society of Nephrology, representing 21,000 nephrologists, scientists and other kidney care professionals, today voiced its support for the Honor Our Living Donors (HOLD) Act (H.R. 6020), new legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) and Suzanne DelBene (D-WA-1) to qualify federal support for living organ donors based on donor income as opposed to current requirements that base support on the organ recipient’s income.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) congratulates the House and Senate sponsors of the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Act upon President Biden signing the legislation and thanks the Biden-Harris administration for its commitment to improving American’s access to transplantation.
American Society of Nephrology publications contribute to the improved kidney health of more than 850,000,000 people worldwide and 37,000,000 Americans affected by kidney diseases.
The United States Senate unanimously passed the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement Transplantation Network (OPTN) Act (S. 1668), following House passage earlier this week, marking a new era for the United States transplant system.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) celebrates the unanimous passage of the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement Transplantation Network (OPTN) Act (H.R. 2544) by the United States House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation will increase transparency, accountability, and competition in the U.S. transplant system.
Approximately 90,000 Americans, including 1,100 children are currently waiting for a kidney transplant. Tragically, 12 Americans will die today waiting for a kidney. Advocates from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) are on Capitol Hill today urging Congress to implement reforms that will help maximize access to transplant care for the 37 million Americans living with kidney diseases; the 8th leading cause of death in the United States.
KidneyCure (the ASN Foundation) is honored to continue its support of investigators committed to advancing kidney health. Building on decades of success, KidneyCure makes it possible to improve knowledge and treatment by identifying and funding high-impact projects. Investigators funded by KidneyCure are making a difference in key areas that impact care for millions. KidneyCure is proud to support excellence and innovation, and to extend the advances that the foundation has propelled since its inception.
Today, the Kidney Innovation Accelerator (KidneyX), a public private partnership between the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the eight winners of the Artificial Kidney Prize Phase 2 at the KidneyX Summit in Washington, DC. The competition recognized participants’ innovative approaches to developing a bioartificial kidney and was divided into two tracks with two Track 1 participants each receiving $1,600,000, and six Track 2 participants each receiving $1,000,000.
Each year, ASN recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and achievements in clinical care, education, and research through our lifetime achievement and midcareer awards. Above all, kidney professionals imbue their work with compassion, dedication, and respect for the people whose lives they improve.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) announced today that Rajnish Mehrotra, MD, MS, FASN, will be its new Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) and Senior Editor-in-Chief for the ASN Journal Portfolio. Mehrotra’s term will begin January 1, 2024, and continue through December 31, 2029. He currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of CJASN. The ASN Journal Portfolio includes three monthly journals, JASN, CJASN, and the online-only, open access journal, Kidney360.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) applauds the introduction of the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act (S. 1668), bipartisan legislation to ensure accountability and transparency in the U.S. transplant system by modernizing its underlying technology and policy infrastructure.
• The Living Donor Protection Act (LDPA) will remove barriers facing living donors.
• Approximately 90,000 adults and 1,100 children are on the kidney transplant waitlist.
• 12 American die every day while waiting for a kidney transplant.
• More than 37 million Americans are living with kidney diseases, including more than 800,000 with kidney failure.
Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce signaled support for the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act (SUS OPTN) during the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing on Existing Healthcare Workforce and Primary Care Programs.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) applauds the introduction of the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure accountability and transparency in the U.S. transplant system by modernizing its underlying technology and policy infrastructure.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) introduces six new recipients of its Loan Mitigation Pilot Program, which provides $50,000 in financial support for trainees entering the field of nephrology.
The prevalence of kidney diseases in the United States is at a record high. Today, more than 50 advocates from ASN and AAKP, representing people with kidney diseases and the health care professionals who serve them, will meet with their members of Congress and call for a $25 million investment in kidney innovation at KidneyX and support of veteran active duty service members living with or at risk of kidney diseases through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VHA) Kidney Health Program and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP).
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) welcomes the significant changes to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)—a sweeping “OPTN Modernization Initiative”—announced today by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Carole Johnson.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) announced a collaboration with the Home Dialysis University (HDU) to improve nephrology trainees’ knowledge, proficiency, and exposure to home dialysis therapies. Through this new collaboration, ASN will provide up to 30 scholarships for selected fellows to attend both an in-person HDU fellows training course and in partnership with HDU, ASN will launch a new 12-month virtual educational program.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is grateful that the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has responded to urgent requests from living donors, patients, their families, and ASN, to commit to honoring promises to living donors in its forthcoming new kidney allocation system.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is encouraged by the recent U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announcement to solicit comment on USPSTF’s draft research plan on screening for kidney diseases. This development follows more than a decade of advocacy in support of more kidney health screening by ASN and other stakeholders dedicated to intervening earlier to slow or stop the progression of kidney diseases.
Today, Uptal D. Patel, MD, was announced as the Chair of the Kidney Health Initiative (KHI). In addition to launching the year with a new Chair, seven new members also join KHI’s Board of Directors.
KidneyCure, the grants program supported by the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Foundation, today announced that applications for its 2023 grants programs are now open. KidneyCure grants support clinical and basic research and kidney health investigators at key professional development milestones. The submission deadline is Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. EST. Grant applications and guidelines can be found at https://www.kidneycure.org/
A recent analysis of clinical trial data estimates that treatment with the combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or angiotensin receptor blockers (ACE inhibitors/ARBs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors can substantially increase the lifetime survival free of kidney failure for patients with albuminuric chronic kidney disease without diabetes.
Survey results from dialysis facilities in Australia and New Zealand indicate that environmental sustainability is not currently prioritized in facilities’ clinical practice, building design, or infrastructure and management systems.
Older adults with kidney failure in Europe experienced a considerable increase in symptom burden in the year before starting dialysis, which stabilized in the year after dialysis initiation.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is pleased to announce that Michelle A. Josephson, MD, FASN, will become the society’s next president. Dr. Josephson, who succeeds Susan E. Quaggin, MD, FASN, will assume her new role on January 1, 2023.
Researchers have compared the impact of conservative management vs. dialysis on hospitalization outcomes in patients with advanced kidney disease across different races/ethnicities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, mortality risk for both COVID-19–positive and other patients on hemodialysis fluctuated in line with two waves of the pandemic in the general population.
During 4 waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, the risk of severe COVID-19 was associated with pre-existing chronic kidney disease, as well as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.
In clinical trials of patients with chronic kidney disease, combining information from the treatment effects on two markers of kidney disease progression—urinary albumin:creatinine ratio change and glomerular filtration rate slope—improves predictions of treatment effects on clinical endpoints.