Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
The devastating effects of war are far-reaching and particularly affect people with kidney disease. The Ukrainian conflict has highlighted problems encountered in the provision of support for this vulnerable group. On the basis of these and previous experiences in massive disasters, we propose a sustainable action plan to prepare for similar logistical challenges in future conflicts.
June marks Pride Month — an event that aims to recognize and celebrate LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. However, it also provides an opportunity to highlight the challenges that LGBTQ+ colleagues and nephrology patients continue to face, and the need to address health inequities.
At Nature Reviews Nephrology, we believe that peer review should be a rigorous, constructive and inclusive process. We are working to meet this aim through several initiatives.
Advancing kidney health justice for all requires the kidney-care community to embrace gender-affirming care across the life course, including inclusion of gender minority individuals in research, thoughtful attention to sexual-orientation and gender-identity data collection, as well as the promotion of policies and practices that protect and provide comprehensive care to all patients.
People with chronic diseases are at high risk of becoming innocent victims of the Russian–Ukrainian war, owing to interruption of their health care. More than 10 million Ukrainian people have left their homes and almost 5 million have left the country. Provision of kidney care for these refugees is an emerging challenge.
People who identify as sexual and/or gender minority individuals face unique and challenging inequities in access to health care. They experience bias, discrimination and underinsurance, which limits their access to high-quality care (including for kidney disease). These inequities must be addressed through the provision of safe and inclusive environments, improved identification of disparities and the creation of a pipeline of equity-focused leaders.
Sexual and/or gender minority health-care workers are subject to the heteronormativity and cisnormativity of society and often face open discrimination. Empowering these individuals to bring their full, authentic selves to work so that they can serve their patients and institutions with the totality of their strengths requires institutes and cisgender or straight allies to support LGBTQ+ communities by creating a culture of inclusivity and enacting progressive policies.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vital role of vaccination in preventing life-threatening diseases and improving global health. Understanding and addressing the concerns of vaccine-hesitant individuals, including those with chronic diseases, is key to increasing vaccine acceptance and uptake.
Decades of research have revealed that nephron number is a crucial determinant of kidney health. However, a lack of appropriate tools has limited these studies to ex vivo analyses. For the first time, techniques are emerging that might enable the use of functional nephron number as a biomarker in living humans.