ASPN is responding to proposed policy changes that would affect how biomedical research is funded and executed and would limit Medicaid coverage in Washington. Because the most effective advocacy combines personal stories and data, we need your help to collect stories about what these changes would mean for you and your patients. Please consider completing this form to share your input on these issues. Additionally, we will be asking willing members to take action about these funding and coverage cuts. If you are willing to email your members of Congress, please share your address so we can identify your representatives, their health staffers, and the staffers’ email addresses. Thank you for supporting ASPN’s advocacy efforts! Please contact Erika Miller, ASPN’s Washington representative, at emiller@dc-crd.com with questions.
ASPN Advocates for Federal Funding Priorities
On February 14, 24 ASPN members participated in virtual advocacy meetings with over 30 congressional offices to discuss the importance of finishing Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 appropriations and sharing our priorities for FY 2026.Specifically, members discussed funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program, and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Organ Transplantation Program, as well as language supporting improving access to services for dually eligible beneficiaries and supporting pediatric patients through HRSA’s Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Modernization Initiative. Members participated in these meetings when there is uncertainty about the future of many health programs that ASPN cares about and were able to share their stories about how these programs support the care delivered to children with kidney disease. We appreciate ASPN members advocating for these important issues and will identifying more opportunities to engage in advocacy!
ASPN Supports NIH Research in Letter to Congress
ASPN joined over 300 organizations in a letter to members of the 119th Congress that emphasized the importance of federal investments in the NIH.The letter highlights how this funding drives medical breakthroughs, improves the lives of patients, strengthens the economy and preserves U.S. leadership in biomedical research.ASPN will continue to advocate for NIH funding.
Call for Volunteers: 2025 ASPN Board Review Course
We are beginning to plan the 2025 ASPN Board Review Course and are seeking volunteers to join the ASPN Board Review Editorial Board.
We need members to assist with:
Reviewing and updating content specifications: Ensure the course content aligns with the latest advancements and board certification requirements.
Reviewing current questions: Evaluate existing questions for accuracy, clarity, and relevance.
Developing new questions: Contribute original, high-quality questions that effectively assess knowledge in pediatric nephrology. See the current list of questions below. We are looking for more questions in all sections, but particularly the ones with fewer or no questions.
If you are interested in contributing to the 2025 ASPN Board Review Course, please contact Christine Sethna at csethna@northwell.edu. Please specify the area(s) in which you would like to assist. The deadline for return of materials is May 1, 2025.
Thank you for your commitment to ASPN and pediatric nephrology education.
Sincerely,
ASPN Planning Committee
Open to all: Find out how YOU can take advantage of the Pediatric Centers of Excellence in Nephrology to advance your research! In-Person or Virtual
A scientific symposium on “Promoting Research in Childhood Kidney Disease” will be hosted by the Pediatric Centers of Excellence in Nephrology (PCEN). This meeting will be an opportunity for you to hear about resources you can access from the PCENs, updates on PCEN science, collaborative opportunities with PCEN researchers, mentorship and funding opportunities, and a hands-on workshop on cutting-edge technologies to advance your research.
Date: March 6, 2025
Hybrid Format: Virtually & in person at NIH in Bethesda, MD
We are looking for a podcast co-host for the 2025 ASPN Sediment podcast featuring PAS pediatric nephrology sessions. Please email Emily Zangla (emily.zangla@sanfordhealth.org) if you are interested!
Do you have successes to share in upcoming KIDney Briefs?
5th International Symposium on Acute Kidney Injury in Children September 26-28, 2025
Symposium programming will provide an interactive educational platform for physicians, nurses and affiliated healthcare professionals who care for children with, or at-risk-for, AKI. Medical specialties will represent nephrology, critical care medicine, cardiology and neonatology. https://www.cincyhearteducationseries.org/akisymposium
A Message from our CLB partner, Vertex
Enrolling Pediatric Patients in APOL1-mediated Kidney Disease Trial
Studies have demonstrated that people with APOL1 genetic variants, G1 and G2, have a greater risk of developing proteinuria and chronic kidney disease (CKD).These APOL1 variants are associated with a more aggressive CKD course with a faster decline to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). APOL1 genetic variants have toxic gain of function activity and are more likely to occur in patients of African ancestry, contributing to disparities in health outcomes for CKD.
The AMPLITUDE Clinical Study, sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, is evaluating an investigational product to see if it will block APOL1-mediated toxic effects in the kidney, leading to decreased proteinuria and improved clinical outcomes. The study includes an APOL1 genotype test to determine which genetic variants, if any, a patient may have.
With your help, we can support further testing and development of a potential treatment for patients with proteinuric kidney disease due to APOL1 genetic variants. This Phase 2/3 study is now enrolling patients that are 10 years of age and older. Please see a list of active participating pediatric locations:
Do you have a patient who might be a good fit? Please see below for the key inclusion and exclusion criteria for this study.The full list of criteria is available on ClinicalTrials.gov via link above.
Key Inclusion Criteria:
APOL1 genotype of G1/G1, G2/G2, or G1/G2
Proteinuric kidney disease
Key Exclusion Criteria:
Solid organ or bone marrow transplant
Uncontrolled hypertension
History of diabetes mellitus
Known underlying cause of kidney disease including but not limited to sickle cell disease
If you’d like to refer a potential participant, feel free to connect directly with a study center if you already have referral connections, or you can provide the link to our patient facing website that includes pre-screeninghttps://amplitudeclinicalresearchstudy.com/.
UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, CA is seeking Pediatric Nephrology Physician Assistant. Posted: 2/20/2025
Dayton Children’s Hospital, in Dayton, Ohio, is recruiting for an additional pediatric nephrologist to join our team. Posted: 2/21/2025
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