New WHO Kidney Disease Webpage Highlights Global Priority

The World Health Organization has launched a dedicated kidney disease webpage, marking an important step in recognizing kidney disease as a major global health priority.

The new resource highlights the growing impact of kidney disease worldwide and its close connection to other chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The launch follows recent international efforts to raise the profile of kidney health, including the 2025 WHO kidney health resolution and the United Nations political declaration on noncommunicable diseases and mental health.

The International Society of Nephrology welcomed the announcement, noting that increased awareness and stronger global collaboration can help improve prevention, early detection, and access to quality kidney care.

“The WHO’s resolution and the launch of this new webpage reflect growing global recognition that kidney disease can no longer remain overlooked,” says Dr. Levin, Executive Director of BC Renal. “We hope this momentum will strengthen advocacy efforts and drive meaningful action to improve outcomes for people living with kidney disease around the world.” 

A key focus will be the review of emerging data on several promising treatment approaches, including SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1–based therapies, and nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. Notably, the Work Group will examine how these therapies may benefit people living with CKD without diabetes, an area of increasing clinical interest and research.

The update reflects KDIGO’s commitment to ensuring that clinical guidelines remain current, evidence-based, and responsive to new developments in care. By incorporating the latest research, the revised guideline aims to better support clinicians in optimizing treatment strategies and improving quality of life for people living with CKD.

For more details, you can read the official announcement here.

Dr. Anurag Singh Awarded with UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Strategic Investment Funding

Their project, the Hybrid Care Research Collaborative: A Rural Health Research Incubator, aims to improve access to care and outcomes in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities by advancing hybrid models that integrate in-person and virtual care.

Informed by Dr. Singh’s clinical experience in Northern BC and Dr. Pawlovich’s decades of work in remote Indigenous communities, the initiative addresses persistent barriers such as long travel distances, fragmented services, and limited local resources. Together, they are working to break down silos in primary care by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthening trust-based relationships with communities, and developing culturally grounded, community-driven solutions.

Through this collaborative approach, Drs. Singh and Pawlovich aim to build sustainable research capacity and advance more equitable, integrated models of care that reflect the realities and priorities of underserved populations across Northern BC.

The revised resource goes beyond label reading to focus on practical, confidence-building strategies for grocery shopping that support kidney, heart, and diabetes health. It helps patients learn how to choose a variety of foods that meet their individual needs, while also providing guidance on key topics such as meal planning, identifying additives of concern, and practical tips for saving time and money while shopping.

The group has also released an updated handout, How to Eat More Plant Foods for Your Kidney Health, which encourages patients to safely incorporate more plant-based foods in their diets while managing kidney disease. The resource addresses common misconceptions about potassium and plant-based eating, reinforcing that it can still be appropriate for people monitoring potassium intake. Dietary patterns that emphasize plant foods may also help support heart and diabetes health while reducing overall inflammation.

Together, the updated resources reinforce a balanced message: kidney-friendly eating is about building flexible, informed choices that support long-term health and the everyday enjoyment of food.

The BC Kidney Research Collaboratory (formerly the BC Kidney Research Unit) welcomes interest from researchers involved in kidney-related research, at any stage of their career.

By helping researchers access resources and engage with the broader kidney research community across BC, the Collaboratory plays an important supportive role in enabling high quality kidney research that can advance knowledge and improve patient care.

Learn more about the Collaboratory by visiting bckidneyresearch.ca. If you currently have a research project or question and are looking for support, fill out the Collaboratory’s research intake form.

• Province Wide Rounds (for health professionals and patient partners)
  • Register for the June 26 webinar: Initiatives and Current Thoughts about CKM: Cardio Kidney Metabolic Syndrome
  • Recordings of past Province Wide Rounds