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ASN News

For years it has been known that the kidney is a target of immune and inflammatory disease. Recent advances in immunology have shed light on the means by which autoimmunity injures organs, such as the kidney, and new opportunities for therapy. While these advances have been considerable, only limited progress has been made in connecting this fundamental knowledge with the pathogenesis of kidney glomerular and interstitial disease. The purpose of this conference is to bring together leading investigators in fundamental immunology and immunotherapeutics with investigators interested in the pathogenesis and treatment of kidney disease. Among the topics to be discussed are new insights into the activation and function of T and B lymphocytes, the means by which the products of T and B lymphocytes contribute to tissue injury, and the control of lymphocyte function in autoimmune disease. New information regarding effector functions of antibodies and complement and control of complement activation will be presented. Focus will also be directed at how organs and tissues respond to immune challenges and how basic immunologic mechanisms can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. Emerging from this conference should be insight into new approaches for dealing with autoimmunity and tolerance in the context of kidney disease.

For more information or to register, visit the ASN website at www.asn-online.org. The conference will be held March 8–11, 2003 in Breckenridge, Colorado. Don’t miss it!

Katie MacCrossen Joins ASN Staff as Education Coordinator

Many of you may have met Katie MacCrossen at Renal Week in Philadelphia or spoken with her on the phone. Katie joined the ASN in September as the Education Coordinator after spending the summer temping on several Renal Week projects.

Katie hails from San Diego, California. She graduated from University of California, Berkeley. She found her way back to DC after spending some time in her last year completing a research internship. Katie has studied abroad in Florence (she is always looking to practice her Italian), and she worked for the Military Sealift Command designing and implementing a system for referencing their 300+ contracts prior to joining the ASN. Katie’s responsibilities will include providing support to the Program Committee, inviting and tracking symposia and evening symposia speakers, managing our speaker database, overseeing the abstract process, and answering general meeting-related inquiries. You can reach Katie at 202-416-0665 or kmaccrossen@asn-online.org.

Welcome Katie! We are excited to have you as a part of the ASN team!

Policy and Public Affairs: News!

ASN has two exciting announcements about its new and expanded efforts in the public policy arena. First, the ASN Council has adopted a new name for what was formerly known as the Government Relations Committee — the ASN Policy & Public Affairs Committee. The Council believes the new committee name better reflects the Society’s expanding activities in such areas as advocacy, policy, and education.

The Policy & Public Affairs Committee will work closely with Paul Smedberg, ASN’s Director of Public Policy, to provide information to support ASN’s public policy agenda. In addition, the Committee will advise the Council and the ASN Public Policy staff regarding the impact of proposed and current national policies in the areas of biomedical research and workforce on the ASN membership.

The Committee will play an important advisory role as the ASN builds and maintains relationships with federal legislative and regulatory bodies, coordinates relationships with non-governmental regulators and collaborators, and develops services and tools for use by members of the Society.

Second, ASN is pleased to announce the appointment of Drs. Paul Palevsky, University of Pittsburgh, and Donald Wesson, Texas Tech University, as the new co-chairs of the ASN Policy and Public Affairs Committee. Drs. Palevsky and Wesson bring a solid working knowledge of policy issues and enthusiasm to the leadership of the Committee. We are pleased that Drs. Palevsky and Wesson have agreed to chair the Committee and look forward to working with them to advance the Society’s public policy agenda and related activities.

NEW E-Newsletter

An important goal of the ASN’s public policy staff for the coming year is to establish better communication of the ASN public policy agenda and activities. Beginning in 2003, the Society will produce and distribute an ASN Policy & Public Affairs e-newsletter. The main purpose of the Policy & Public Affairs e-newsletter is to inform, educate, and engage ASN membership as well as collaborative and coalition partners about the Society’s public policy activities. The e-newsletter will also serve as a vehicle to update readers on legislative and regulatory issues of interest to ASN members.

ASN believes the e-newsletter will develop into an important educational tool as health and regulatory issues likely take center stage in the new Congress, which convened in January 2003. Increased communication and educational efforts will enhance the Society advocacy efforts as we reach out to educate the new members of the House and Senate about kidney disease, to foster increased research, and to promote legislation to benefit ASN members and their patients. Educating and engaging ASN members to be effective advocates is the ultimate goal of the e-newsletter.

Renal Coalition

In February 2003, the Renal Coalition will resume its regularly scheduled meetings with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The ASN along with Renal Coalition partners/collaborates — National Kidney Foundation, American Kidney Fund, American Association of Kidney Patients, Renal Physician Association, National Renal Administrators Association, and the American Nephrology Nurses Association — propose to discuss items such as the ERSD Disease Management Demo Project, supplemental insurance for ERSD beneficiaries, AWP (average wholesale price) Medicare reimbursement to the renal community, and receiving an update on bundling and annual formula studies. The Renal Coalition strongly supports regularly scheduled meetings as a way to raise, address, and communicate issues with CMS officials. The Society’s involvement in the Renal Coalition symbolizes the growing importance of regulatory issues to ASN membership.

Save the Dates: Renal Week 2003

Don’t miss us this year in San Diego, California! Renal Week will be held November 12–17, 2003. The preliminary program and registration materials will be mailed to members in June. Be sure to renew your dues so you won’t miss this mailing. More information, as it comes available, will be posted on the ASN website.

Speaking of ASN Dues . . .

ASN is happy to introduce our brand-new, hassle-free online membership renewal system. Renew your ASN membership at your convenience on our website, www.asn-online.org. Our new renewal system takes just 5 minutes and is paper free. Renew early to make sure you don’t miss even one issue of JASN!

Save These Dates, Too!

ASN again invites you to attend our Board Review Course & Update August 23–29, 2003, in San Francisco. Our course offers a comprehensive mixture of general review and workshop sessions with Advanced Workshops designed to flexibly accommodate the educational needs of all our attendees. For 2003, the Advanced Workshops are aimed at more seasoned nephrologists who wish to substitute some of the General Sessions with more advanced sessions that deal in their area of strength. Create your own curriculum, and allow our Board Review Course to meet your specific needs! We are currently in the process of updating and re-crafting the sessions. Stay tuned to www.asn-online.org for more information, and don’t forget to Save the Date!FIGURE

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