What is so special about the 2012 Congress in Hawaii?

RECENT ADVANCES IN our understanding of, and approach to, caring for patients with kidney disease and their nutritional and dietary management are expected to have unprecedented impact on the current and future status of nephrology and nutrition practice throughout the world. To this end, the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM, www.RenalNutrition.com) and the Council of Renal Nutrition (CRN) of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), in collaboration with several professional societies in different countries, have joined together to expand the 16th International Congress in Renal Nutrition and Metabolism into the 1st World Renal Nutrition Week during June 26 to 30, 2012.

The beautiful Hawaiian main island is the location of the World Renal Nutrition Week upon gracious agreement of the NKF of Hawaii to serve as the local host of the congress. The Congress’ website, www.Renal NutritionWeek.com, has been updated on a weekly or more frequent basis, posts relevant announcements and provides a convenient venue for all communications including abstract submission (December 1, 2011 to February 29, 2012). What is so special about the 2012 Congress in Hawaii? First and foremost, this is the 16th time that this traditional congress will be held. The congress has been held every 2 years since the late 70’s, when it had become apparent that scientific research concerning abnormal metabolism of protein, lipid, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals in kidney disease had progressed rapidly, along with the most recent data indicating the important role of the nutritional status in the survival of patients with kidney disease. In addition, the nutritional management of patients with kidney disease has changed substantially as a result of these new discoveries, including most recent data on uremic toxins, dietary phosphorus, and nutritional therapy.

The 1st International Congress on Nutrition in Renal Diseasewas held at the High School of Music in W€urzburg, Germany from May 23 to 25, 1977. The location of the bi-annual congress has varied among different countries, including once in the USA (Virginia) but 14 times in Europe and Asia. Hence, it is time for the U.S. to host this important congress again. Whereas Hawaii is a State of the USA, its geopolitical location makes it the most appropriate place to serve as the crossroad among nations. The Honolulu International Airport has many daily non-stop flights from cities in South East Asia and the Pacific including Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Vancouver, Auckland, Sydney, and Manila, among others, as well as several U.S. airports. The ISRNM is the oldest and foremost scientific organization dedicated to the entire spectrum of nutrition and metabolism in kidney disease. The ISRNM members include basic, clinical and population scientists, public health officials, practicing physicians, and many dietitians and nurses who provide clinical and nutritional care to patients with a variety of kidney diseases.

The Society works through its biannual multidisciplinary International Congresses, the Journal of Renal Nutrition, scientific statements, consensus articles, and joint programs with other societies of nutrition, dietetics, nephrology, biochemistry and physiology. The Hawaii Congress is dedicated to disseminating the latest scientific advances in the field of renal nutrition and metabolism as they relate to patients with kidney diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI). Both the Scientific and Program Committees and the local organizers in Hawaii have made significant efforts to assemble an outstanding scientific and clinical program, which will include scientific sessions, satellite symposia, free communication sessions, simultaneous poster sessions and multidisciplinary workshops.

These sessions will cover a wide range of contemporary topics that are relevant to nephrologists, dietitians, internists, nutritionists, dialysis nurses and technicians, pharmacists and pharmacologists, researchers, clinicians, allied health care professionals and industry affiliates. The organizing committees of the 2012 Congress and the World Renal Nutrition Week expect an attendance of more than 800 participants from many countries. Overall, there will be over 50 scientific lectures that will be delivered by highly accomplished experts.

Session topics include: emerging data and updates on prevention and management of protein-energy wasting (PEW), malnutrition and inflammation, muscle wasting and cachexia. uremic toxins including indoxyl sulfate modulators, lowprotein diet and keto-analogues for CKDprogression, insulin resistance and glycemic control, diabetic nephropathy and proteinuria, potassium and salt management, sodium disarrays, fluid status, new developments in calcium and phosphate metabolism, secondary hyperparathyroidism and vitamin D analogs, calcimimetics and FGF-23, dietary phosphorus and phosphate additives, phosphorus binding dyslipidemia in CKD, anemia and iron management, intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN), oral nutritional supplements for CKD and AKI, appetite stimulators and anabolic agents, conventional and novel dialysis techniques and modalities, and dietary counseling. In addition, theWorld Renal Nutrition Congress will focus on specific nutritional and metabolic issues that have not been covered in detail previously, but are of great relevance to CKD patients such as vitamins and trace elements in kidney disease, the role of salt intake in hypertension, the significance of uremic toxin chelations and nutritional and dietary management of AKI and CKD, as well as nephrolithiasis.

Dedicated scientific sessions are planned for peritoneal dialysis, metabolic nutritional considerations in kidney transplantation and effects of dialysis techniques and kidney transplantation on growth and metabolism in children. Obesity and the role of adipokines in kidney diseases will also be discussed. The three main Congress days are Wednesday, June 27 through Friday, June 29, 2012. Moreover, on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, there will be several pre-congress events including an educational course for renal dietitians, a consensus meeting on dietary phosphorus and preservatives, and programs on PEW,muscle metabolism and exercise in kidney disease. Some of the pre-congress events will require separate registration or may be held by invitation. The Aloha Opening Reception dinner is expected Tuesday evening, June 26, and the gala dinner Friday evening, June 29, 2012. On Saturday, June 30, 2012, there will be opportunities for social events, while industry affiliates and consultants may arrange internal meetings and conferences. Multiple pharmaceutical and biomedical companies and industry affiliates have committed to support the Congress.

In addition to the ICRNM and CRN, the 2012 Hawaii Congress has been endorsed by several worldwide professional kidney groups, including the International Society of Nephrology (ISN), the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF), the Korean Society of Nephrology, The Japanese Society of Nephrology, and the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy. The registration fee has been adjusted to allow maximum participation of the dietitians to this unique event, which attests to our commitment to propagation of the most recent scientific advances to the largest possible audience. The 16th Renal Nutrition and Metabolism Congress represents an unparalleled opportunity to communicate relevant clinical and scientific information amongst a highly devoted group of individuals dedicated in the care of patients with kidney disease. We invite you to participate in this outstanding event and we are looking forward to hosting you in Honolulu during the lastweek of June 2012.