Until October of last year, more than 13 thousand people were waiting for a kidney transplant in Mexico. This organ is the most demanded in the country and more efforts to avoid these surgical processes are still needed. Therefore, researchers seek improving the knowledge on how to slow the progression of kidney disease.
To promote more research and strengthen the multidisciplinary scientific relationships in this area, Dr. Zesergio Melo Jerez and Dr. Raquel Echavarría Zepeda, professors of the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) attached to the Western Biomedical Research Center of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), in Guadalajara, are preparing the next Update and Innovations in Renal Disease symposium, to be held on October 15, which will address a series of activities for specialists seeking to address this problem.
Only in Mexico, according to data from the National Registry of Transplants, until October 3, 2017 there was a registry of 13 ,633 people waiting for a kidney transplant. Dr. Melo pointed out that this scenario is evidence of the need to have more specialists to investigate and prevent kidney diseases to avoid the need of transplants.
Dr. Melo said that the symposium will include the participation of researchers from different disciplines, such as nutritionists and anesthesiologists, to present their point of view in kidney health. “We are gathering an interdisciplinary group around this theme: the health of the kidney.”
The Update and Innovations in Renal Disease symposium will address three main topics: acute renal failure, chronic kidney disease and transplants. A highlight of the event is the talk given by Dr. Alfonso Cueto Manzano, president of the Latin American Society of Nephrology and Hypertension (SLANH), on epidemiology of chronic kidney disease.
There will also be information on renal support for critically ill patients, nutrition in renal patient care, accuracy in kidney transplants, and updating biopsies on this condition.
Dr. Melo mentions that this will be the first time that this symposium is organized; however, the initiative is planned to become a constant within the Center for Biomedical Research of the West.
Multidisciplinary researchers on kidney health
Dr. Echavarría points out that as CONACYT professors, they seek to promote the link between renal research and its application in medicine, so that from the symposium will serve to strengthen a multidisciplinary perspective to find solutions to kidney problems.
“In order to fight kidney disease we need to be multidisciplinary. We come from laboratory and molecular biology areas, and our work involves making links with the chemical area. With this symposium we want to include several professionals to expose our problems and together contribute to solutions“.
The functions of the kidney in the body can be compromised due to diseases such as diabetes or hypertension, said Dr. Echavarría. In this context, it is necessary to address the problem to avoid cases involving more complex medical processes, such as a transplant.
Dr. Melo explained that the benefit of this type of updates is directly reflected in the population, as a more qualified professional can apply their knowledge in the care of patients and the prevention of kidney disease.
Source: Agencia Informativa CONACYT
