Glomerular diseases' impact on children and adults globally is devastating; they are among the most common causes of end stage kidney disease. We are in a golden era with rapid development of understanding the pathophysiology of these diseases, numerous positive controlled trials demonstrating novel effective treatments and a movement towards proper precision medicine approaches to individualize therapy. Now more than ever we need ISGD COE-GD to enhance expertise, upskill the global nephrology community, accelerate research and perhaps above all, ensure that new findings are rapidly implemented and widely accessible; compared to the drought of the previous half century, we suddenly have a plethora of approved drugs to treat various GDs – now we need our strong advocacy to ensure equity of access.
From a very personal perspective, I have the honour and privilege to serve on the leadership of both the ISN and ISGD, believe our visions and missions closely align and believe the establishment of ISGD COE-GD offers a huge opportunity to work together more closely in order to improve the outcomes for people with glomerular disease around the world.
Prof. Liz Lightstone, ISGD COE-GD Program Lead and International Society of Nephrology (ISN) President-elect
At the PNRC, our goal is to promote clinical and translational research directed toward improving the clinical care of children with kidney disease. Establishing Centers of Excellence in Glomerular Disease is an important step to ensure our patients are able to find and receive optimal care, and to enhance collaborative efforts with all stakeholders to continually improve clinical care. As the professional society of the leading glomerular disease experts around the world, the ISGD is uniquely positioned to implement the introduction of centers of excellence in glomerular disease, both for children and adults.
Dr. William E. Smoyer, Board Member, Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium (PNRC)
As pediatric nephrologists, my colleagues and I are deeply committed to ensuring that children affected by glomerulopathies receive the highest standard of care—achieving optimal treatment outcomes while minimizing adverse effects. On behalf of the European Society for Pediatric Nephrology (ESPN), I strongly support the ISGD's initiative to certify specialized centers. This certification plays a vital role in safeguarding the quality of care for our young patients and offers valuable guidance to families seeking the most appropriate treatment center for their child. We view this as an outstanding and much-needed initiative, and the ESPN is proud to endorse it.
Prof. Dr. Jun Oh, Executive Council Member, European Society for Pediatric Nephrology (ESPN)
The National Kidney Foundation has been honored to participate in this groundbreaking initiative to establish criteria for Centers of Excellence for glomerular diseases. ISGD’s leadership to certify Centers of Excellence for these disorders will solidify existing clinical expertise and help develop new hubs for the treatment of these important illnesses.
Anyone who lives with a glomerular disease, knows, or has treated patients with these conditions understands how devastating they can be to an individual and family. In that context, it is noteworthy that patient input was incorporated at each step during the development of the certification criteria.
We are certain that creating criteria to establish Centers of Excellence for glomerular diseases will result in earlier diagnosis and treatment, and improved outcomes for patients. These aspirations, along with bringing the voice of patients to the forefront of medical care, are the core components of the National Kidney Foundation’s mission. Therefore, we have particularly appreciated this collaboration.
David L. Feldman, PhD. Senior Medical Project Director, National Kidney Foundation (NKF)
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