Renal Research Institute’s Milestone 20th Annual International Conference on Dialysis: Advances in Kidney Disease 2018 Draws Leading Nephrology and Kidney Experts from Across the Globe

NEW YORK (January 26, 2018)—Nephrologists, renal researchers and kidney experts from across the globe descend on Lake Buena Vista, Florida, for the 20th International Conference on Dialysis: Advances in Kidney Disease 2018, presented by the Renal Research Institute (RRI)—a division of Fresenius Medical Care North America(FMCNA)—and the University of Minnesota, from January 31 through February 2, 2018 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Featuring an influential presenter lineup from leading organizations including the Mayo Clinic, Yale University, Columbia University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt University and the University of Rochester School of Medicine, the three-day conference draws nearly 400 top physicians, researchers and scholars from nine different countries worldwide to discuss the most current scientific insights in nephrology and to share knowledge from global thought leaders in the field.

“RRI’s annual conference has made significant contributions to both renal research and the international scientific community since our Institute’s founding nearly two decades ago,” said noted researcher and scholar, Peter Kotanko, MD, FASN, Research Director for RRI. “With a strong focus on special populations including pediatric nephrology, acute kidney injury, and a growing interest in women’s health research, the conference has evolved into a force that is helping drive new discoveries in kidney disease and is one of the many ways we live our mission of translating science into practice for the benefit of patients around the world.”

“With 10% of the global population having chronic kidney disease (CKD), and over 30 million American adults living with the disease and millions more at risk, RRI is uniquely positioned to use the power of research to make an impact on a very urgent global epidemic,” said Frank Maddux, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Clinical and Scientific Affairs for FMCNA. “By intersecting science and technology, the Institute’s research enables us to test new ways to advance the management of kidney disease care, and the Institute’s use of novel mathematical techniques to model human physiology are some of the many groundbreaking advances initiated by RRI and Dr. Kotanko that have helped translate research into applied clinical care.”

This year’s conference includes focused discussions around hot-button issues in dialysis and nephrology, including bone and mineral metabolism, women’s issues in nephrology and vascular health. The program features noted presenters including Columbia University’s Gerald Appel, MD, PhD, and Ali Gharavi, MD; Roberto Pecoits-Filho, MD, PhD, FACP, FASN of the Pontifíca Universidade Católica do Paraná in Brazil; Claudio Ronco, MD, from San Bortolo Hospital in Vincenza, Italy; the University of Rochester School of Medicine’s David Bushinsky, MD; Vanderbilt University’s Jens Titze, MD; and Alan Kliger, MD, of the Yale University School of Medicine.

ABOUT PETER KOTANKO, MD, FASN
Research Director, Renal Research Institute
Fresenius Medical Care North America

Noted researcher and scholar, Dr. Peter Kotanko leads RRI’s scientists and fellows, heading the Institute’s research initiatives to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. His efforts have resulted in an active and prolific research career comprising over 250 research papers, book chapters and scholarly works. With over 20 years of clinical background and expertise in physiology, internal medicine and nephrology, Dr. Kotanko is an adjunct professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York and is the former vice chair of Austria’s hospital Barmherzige Brüder in Graz.

ABOUT THE RENAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
FMCNA’s Renal Research Institute achieves its mission to improve the outcomes of patients with kidney disease through research and innovation. RRI’s highly developed and specialized expertise in computational biomedicine, exploratory clinical and biomedical research and data analytics underscore the Institute’s track record of thinking outside the box and identifying high-value areas. Through alliance and collaboration agreements, RRI has forged strategic research relationships with leading universities in the Americas, Asia, and Europe, fostering RRI’s position at the forefront of research activities in the field of dialysis and nephrology. www.renalresearch.com