Overview

The bone and the kidney are closely involved in the regulation of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate metabolism. Under normal conditions the balance is neutral – inflow equals outflow both at the level of the bone and that of the entire organism, and the body‘s needs are met facilitating optimal functionality.

Why the Bone and the Kidney?

In the case of chronic kidney disease there is a severe breakdown in this crucial balance – the progressive loss of renal function demands that the bone and the kidney must work to maintain essential bodily functions.
The high price to pay for this maintenance work is progressive functional and structural changes in both. The cross-talk between the bone and the kidney under physiological conditions largely remains without translation. The time is now to decipher the dialect between the two.
This inaugural Nexus symposium will adopt a multidisciplinary approach to provide the necessary insight into the bone and kidney interaction.

Topic highlights will include:

* Renal and skeletal receptors and transporters
* Molecular aspects of mineral metabolism
* Stem cells, PHT and bone
* Genetic diseases of the bone and kidney
* Hormones, growth factors and enzymes
* Urinary infection and nephrolithiasis
* Vascular calcification: from in vitro studies to renal osteodystrophy
* Novel treatment modalities including vitamin D analogs, phosphate binders and calcimimetics

Plenary lectures, basic and clinical scientific sessions presenting cutting edge discovery within the field, balanced by the translational sessions, will signpost future directions and solutions for research scientists and clinicians alike.