Since I joined the ASN Council in 2001, our society has grown by over 2,500 members and the dispersal of funds to support education and research has increased by over a million dollars annually. The reason for this growth depends largely on the energetic and visionary service of our members, the leaders of our publications, advisory groups, committees, the many educational efforts of the society, and the staff in the Washington ASN office. They should all be credited and congratulated for these positive trends.
Our society was founded on the principles of scientific inquiry and the efficient dissemination of the latest information. These principles still guide our path today. We continue to be involved in education through many different meeting formats (including Renal Weekends and the Board Review Course) and we are always seeking new pathways to educate and to provide research funds to our members.
Dr. Jonathan Himmelfarb, Chair of the Public Policy Board and Mr. Paul Smedberg, Director, Policy and Public Affairs, lead a robust public policy effort inspired by our goals and principles. They continue to expand and focus on the organization of visits to Capitol Hill on World Kidney Day. On March 8, 2007 we will join the International Society of Nephrology, the National Kidney Foundation, the Renal Physicians Association, and the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology in a continued effort to inform our elected representatives of the prevalence of kidney disease in the U.S., the cost of the disease to the country, and the absolute necessity of funding research into both the causes of morbidity and mortality and the discovery of new treatments to prevent and effectively treat kidney disease.
Our sub-specialty needs to “catch up” in the conduct of clinical trials, as only a handful of randomized studies have been performed in the areas of CKD or ESRD. There is enthusiasm for undertaking a number of such studies, as evidenced by the excellent ideas developed at the recent Clinical Research in Kidney Disease conference held at the NIH on January 29th and 30th. However, it is clear that any new initiative will require energy and commitment from a unified nephrology community to grow awareness of kidney disease and garner funds in a competitive environment. The ASN, with the leadership of Dr. Himmelfarb and the enthusiastic support of our members, will continue to be in the vanguard of efforts to facilitate future investments in research. These activities provide real hope to our patients for a lighter burden and a brighter future.
Sincerely yours,
William Henrich, MD, FASN
2. Renew your ASN Membership
If you do not renew your annual membership by February 28th, your benefits will be discontinued. Renew today and take advantage of the great benefits the ASN has to offer:
- Printed and online subscriptions to the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), and Nephrology Self-Assessment Program (NephSAP)
- Eligibility for ASN grant funding
- Discounts on all ASN educational programs
- Ability to submit an abstract without sponsorship
- Renal Express and Renal Policy Express
- Eligibility for Fellowship of the American Society of Nephrology (FASN) status
- Free Online Job Placement Service and Membership Directory
- Voting rights for “Active” members
- AND MORE!
You may also visit the ASN website at www.asn-online.org to renew your 2007 dues.
3. Register Now for Renal WeekEnds
Registration is now available online (click here) for the ASN's “Renal WeekEnd” meetings, taking place this winter in a city near you! The early registration deadline for the first four meetings (Toronto, Los Angeles, DC, and New York) has passed. For the latter four meetings (Seattle, Mexico City, Houston, and Chicago), the early registration deadline is February 23rd. Sign up now and take advantage of the early registration discount!
Expert faculty will summarize, critique, and put into perspective key presentations from Renal Week 2007 in San Diego. These “Renal WeekEnd” programs are perfect for those who could not attend Renal Week.
Join us in the city nearest you:
Los Angeles, CA, February 10-11
Washington, DC, February 17-18
New York, NY, February 24-25
Seattle, WA, March 3-4
Houston, TX, March 17-18
Mexico City, Mexico, March 10-11
Chicago, IL, March 31-April 1
For housing and program information, click here.
4. ASN Grant Guidelines
The submission deadline for the majority of ASN grants is March 9, 2007.
The ASN recognizes the need to support the clinical and basic science research of its members and offers grants to assist researchers at various points in their careers. For grant details, applications, and submission deadlines, click here.
5. CJASN to be Indexed and Abstracted by Thomson Scientific
In early January, the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) was accepted for coverage in Thomson Scientific (TS) products and services. Beginning with volume 1, issue 1, CJASN will be indexed and abstracted in:
- Scientific Citation Index Expanded (SciSearch)
- Current Contents Clinical Medicine
- Journal Citation Reports Science Edition
According to the TS website, Science Citation Index Expanded “provides access to current and retrospective bibliographic information, author abstracts, and cited references found in the world's leading scholarly science and technical journals.” Current Contents Clinical Medicine “provides access to complete bibliographic information from articles, editorials, meeting abstracts, commentaries, and all other significant items in recently published editions of the world's leading clinical medicine journals and books.” Journal Citation Reports presents quantifiable statistical data that provides a systematic, objective way to evaluate the world's leading journals and their impact and influence in the global research community, according to TS. For more information on these and other TS products please visit their website.
ASN Managing Editor Bonnie O'Brien confirmed that the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) has been indexed and abstracted since its inception by Thomson Scientific's Current Contents Clinical Medicine and Current Contents Life Sciences. Additionally JASN is indexed and abstracted in Science Citation Index Expanded (SciSearch and Web of Science), and Journal Citation Reports.
6. International Nephrology Meeting
The 10th International Developmental Nephrology Workshop will be held in Pécs, Hungary on August 28-30, 2007. The theme of this meeting is Molecular Networks: Programming Normal Renal Development and Modeling Disease Pathogenesis. The program includes 3 internationally renowned investigators who will give state-of-the-art plenary talks as well as a slate of outstanding scientists who will present their work in 6 theme-based symposia:
- Stem cell renewal and differentiation
- Patterning I: nephrogenesis
- Patterning II: the kidney and the GU system
- Molecular networks: epithelial differentiation
- Molecular defects that disrupt renal architecture
- Fetal programming and the origins of adult disease
Details about the scientific program, the social program, as well as registration information are available at their website (www.pcongress.hu). Travel awards are available on a competitive basis. The deadline for abstract submission is April 15, 2007.
We encourage you to attend what promises to be an outstanding scientific meeting, set in this historical and cultural jewel of Hungary.
