G&K Working Group

Genetic kidney diseases have received increasing attention over the last decade and come with a considerable burden for the affected patients, their families and healthcare systems. Studies show that – as an example – genetic causes of kidney failure are much more common than originally expected. Increasing knowledge has led to a paradigm shift towards increased diagnostic efforts and accuracy. Importantly, the identification of the underlying genetic cause and the associated impact on the function of kidney cells begins to be the basis for optimized counselling and the development of novel targeted treatment options. 

It is time to take the next step and implement new opportunities in routine clinical care. This step requires intense international collaboration, and the education of multidisciplinary medical personnel and needs to involve all stakeholders in the field – from patients, healthcare providers and researchers to politics, funding agencies and industry. In this context, Genes&Kidney will form a central hub to coordinate educational efforts, research and interdisciplinary cross-border interaction in the field of genetic kidney diseases.