UNC will be well represented at a signature nephrology event this fall. Keisha Gibson, MD, MPH, chief of the division of pediatric nephrology and assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics, and Patrick H. Nachman, MD, FASN, Marion Stedman Covington Distinguished Professor and deputy director of the UNC Kidney Center, have been invited to serve on the International Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference on Glomerular Diseases.
Every five years, the International Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) performs a systematic review of the most common kidney diseases, and this culminates in the publishing of evidence-based treatment guidelines for practicing nephrologists worldwide. Dr. Keisha Gibson has been asked to lead a conference working group focused on minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Dr. Patrick Nachman has been asked to lead a working group focused on membranous nephropathy.
Dr. Gibson has served as a co-investigator for several nephrotic syndrome studies in past years, collaborating with researchers from institutions through the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network and co-leading the pediatric working group for this consortium. This work combined with other roles serving the Glomerular Disease Advisory Group for the American Society of Nephrology has positioned her as a top contributor to this review.
“This is truly an honor to be invited because the KDIGO guidelines are widely respected across the globe, and a very important source of information to practicing nephrologists,” said Dr. Gibson.
The conference will identify and delineate key questions and areas of controversies regarding the diagnosis and treatment of glomerular diseases. This work will not only set the stage for updating guidelines for the treatment of glomerular disease, it will guide researchers who are working on drug development pertaining to glomerular diseases.
Dr. Patrick Nachman participated in the 2012 KDIGO Guidelines on Glomerular Diseases focusing on the section on ANCA vasculitis and lupus nephritis. Since then, he has continued working on these and other glomerular diseases. This has led to publications related to complications of membranous nephropathy and their prevention, as well as a white paper pertaining to the use of surrogate endpoints in clinical trials.
“We’ve made substantial progress in understanding the mechanisms of disease, genetic factors, and treatments for glomerular disease over the last decade,” said Dr. Nachman. “This is a particularly exciting time to be helping translate research into better treatments and outcomes for our patients.”
Dr. Charles Jennette, Kenneth M. Brinkhous Distinguished Professor and chair of the department of pathology, and Dr. William F. Pendergraft, in the division of nephrology, are also members of the KDIGO conference. They will contribute to the lupus nephritis and ANCA vasculitis working groups.
“With the four of us, UNC will be very well represented, and will contribute broadly to the success in this important international project,” said Dr. Nachman.