The official ERA-EDTA Newsletter - Year 1 Issue 3

A. Covic

A Turning Point for ERA-EDTA
London Council Meeting, October 21-22 2005

A report from the ERA-EDTA Secretary-Treasurer, Adrian Covic

During the last couple of years several major initiatives were debated by the Councilors of the ERA-EDTA, of great importance for the future shape of our Society and, we hope, for a positive development of the European nephrology. Central to these opportunities and initiatives are the excellent financial situation of our organization and the fi nal agreement on changes in our Constitution.
Two directions were perceived by the Officers and the ERA-EDTA Council - serving with pride the interests of ERA-EDTA.
Our first mission was to improve our scientific framework and offer scientific and research opportunities for all nephrologists and scientists interested in kidney disease. At the same time, we further considered improving our organizational structure and internal democracy.

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Education at the core

Interview with Rosanna Coppo, Chairperson of Administrative Offices of the ERA-EDTA

Professor Coppo, why is ERA-EDTA getting involved in CME?
Over the last years our Society has made some huge changes regarding some of its missions. It became clear that the annual Congress, which actually began as a friendly get-together meeting to exchange ideas on treatments of CKD around Europe, has become a remarkable event that include speakers of the highest scientific level. The improved level of the Congress, together with the growing scientific impact of the NDT Journal, made it possible to think of new projects that would increasing the role of ERA-EDTA on the education of the European Nephrologists. Hence two new initiatives for educational purposes were planned: an electronic Journal (NDT Educational) and a CME programme. Our Society is assuming the mission of being in charge of scientifically up-dating, in Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, the medical doctors working in the field.

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R. Coppo

ERA-EDTA fellowship programme to support kidney research

From K.-U. Eckardt

Starting in 2006 the new ERA-EDTA fellowship programme will support basic and clinical research in the fi eld of nephrology in Europe, facilitate scientific exchange and collaboration between European research institutions and help young investigators, who are aiming for a scientific career in this area, to establish their own research programme and profile.

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Arrest Renal disease Progression Aim (ARPA)
A cutting edge clinical trial of the ERA-EDTA

From C. Zoccali, Chairman of the ERA-EDTA Registry

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is now perceived as a major public health problem. By the next decade the prevalence of CKD stage 5 will exceed 700,000 patients in Europe. Following the estimates made in USA, over 6 million Europeans may have compromised renal function. Apart from the need for dialysis and renal transplantation, the increased risk for cardiovascular events in patients with even mild degree of renal function impairment make CKD a true challenge for the European Health Systems.
Over the last decade, relatively small trials have provided evidence that the combined use of ACE-inihitors (ACE-I) and Angiotensin Receptor blocking drugs (Sartans) potentiates the effects of monotherapy with ACE-I or Sartans. On the other hand, experimental and clinical studies indicate that Statins may have a favourable effect on renal disease progression and cardiovascular risk.

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C. Zoccali

The new impact factor

From N. Lameire, Editor-in-Chief of NDT

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, the official journal of the ERA-EDTA, has expanded steadily over the last few years, as shown by increasing subscription rates, its progressive rise in “hit” rates that have been documented over the time that the Journal has been accessible on the Internet, and in terms of ‘Impact Factor’.
An impact factor for a journal attempts to provide a measure of how frequently papers published in a journal are cited in the scientific literature. It is derived by dividing the number of citations in any one year with items published in the journal in the previous two years.
As recently discussed in an interesting editorial in Nature (June 23, 2005), research assessment rests too heavily on the inflated status of the impact factor.

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An update on the ERA-EDTA Glasgow Congress

From J. Fox, President of the XLIII Congress,
and P. Ronco, Chairman of the Scientific Committee

Preparations for the XLIII Congress of the ERA-EDTA, to be held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 15-18th 2006, are proceeding very well. The SECC, the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and the Glasgow City Council are supporting us ably and enthusiastically, and local planning is at an advanced stage. The accommodation service is already busy, and we are expecting an excellent attendance.

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News from the ERA-EDTA Council

ERA-EDTA COUNCIL CANDIDATES
At the time of the Glasgow Congress, three Ordinary Council members will end their term (K.-U. Eckardt - Germany; G. London – France and D. Tsakiris - Greece). If you are interested in becoming a candidate for election to Ordinary Council Member, please send a written statement to the Secretary-Treasurer before March 1, 2006. All candidates must be full members of the Association and any proposals for election must be accompanied by supporting letters obtained from two other full members of the Association. Furthermore C. Zoccali (Italy) will end his first term as Chairman of the Registry. He is eligible for a second three year term. However should any Full member, having been a member of the Association for at least five consecutive years, wish to apply for this ex-officio post, he/she must send his/her candidacy letter to the Secretary-Treasurer before March 1, 2006 accompanied by supporting letters obtained from two other full members of the Association.