Organized into six main themes: the Fundamentals of Integrative Biology, Progression and Prevention of Chronic Renal Failure, Inflammation and Immunology, Dialysis, Transplantation, Issues in Clinical Nephrology, with a strong clinical focus, the scientific program embraced outstanding invited lectures, free communication sessions and posters, as well as continuing nephrology education sessions, and a pre-congress postgraduate training course. The overall success of the meeting owed much to the efforts of the scientific program committee responsible for the design of the program and choosing the speakers.

Aside from presenting the very latest data with regards to nephrology and related fields, the WCN program provided an update on the present status of CKD from all corners of the globe which stimulated participants to consider the future direction of nephrology.

The potential utility of gene therapy and genomics to both dissect disease mechanisms and as a means to perform pre-clinical testing was emphasized and awaits further insight a subject area that featured throughout many of the more basic research presentations. Covered by a number of talks given by eminent cardiologists and nephrologists, was the recurring and highly contemporary theme of cardiovascular and renal disease progression. The increasing evidence of the role of the kidney in predicting the risk for cardiovascular disease and as a treatment target was signposted as a clear hotspot for the future.

There were a number of inspiring and thought provoking presentations which provided an insight into the ISN's outreach and prevention programs, along with its commitment to advancing nephrology around the world. These
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Contact: Amanda Wren
amanda.wren@isn-online.org
322-743-1546
International Society of Nephrology
27-Jul-2005