13th International Podocyte Conference

The 13th International Podocyte Conference was originally planned for June 2020, but was delayed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, it took place as a hybrid meeting; those speakers who could attend gathered at the University of Manchester where they were enthusiastically hosted by Rachel Lennon, and were joined virtually by additional speakers and attendees from all over the world.

The conference started with a pre-meeting for early career scientists, which showcased selected talks from both established and emerging researchers. The pre-meeting day wrapped up with a stimulating round table discussion on "How to Be a Successful Podocyte Researcher: Example Career Pathways," with Ron Korstanje PhD, Jeff Miner PhD, Christoph Schell MD, Rachel Lennon MD, and Agnes Fogo MD providing insights from their respective professional journeys.

The three-day main meeting continued the tradition of a wide-ranging spectrum of basic and translational research, with sessions including:

• Podocyte cell-cell and cell-matrix signalling
• Genetics from diagnosis to therapy
• Understanding basement membranes
• Podocyte pathology

The Marilyn Farquhar Award was presented to Stuart Shankland.