Description

The Genetics in Clinical Nephrology course was a dedicated Early Program held on the Wednesday immediately preceding the main ASN Kidney Week 2025 Annual Meeting.

This comprehensive full-day session was designed to demystify the rapidly expanding role of genetics in daily nephrology practice. It moved beyond the “research” phase to focus on the practical clinical integration of genetic testing, helping clinicians understand when to test, how to interpret complex results (like Variants of Uncertain Significance), and how these findings directly alter patient management and family counseling.

What You Will Learn

The curriculum focused on actionable “nephrogenetics.” Key learning outcomes included:

Testing Modalities: A clear guide on choosing the right test—knowing when to order a targeted Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel versus Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) or Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).

Transplant Implications: How genetic findings change the risk assessment for living related donors (e.g., in APOL1-mediated disease or Alport syndrome) to prevent “donating” the disease.

Therapeutic Targets: Updates on new precision therapies that target specific genetic pathways in Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) and complement-mediated Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA).

Variant Interpretation: A workshop-style breakdown of the ACMG (American College of Medical Genetics) classification system to help clinicians understand the difference between “Pathogenic” and “Benign