History

The Renal Association was founded in 1950, long before nephrology existed as a coherent clinical specialty, indeed before the term ‘nephrology’ was even coined. The Renal Association, now the UK Kidney Association (following a merger with the British Renal Society in 2021) is the oldest continuously active nephrology society in the world, long preceding for example the International Society of Nephrology (founded 1960), EDTA-ERA (1964), and ASN (1966).

In its early years, the Renal Association’s primary goal was to run meetings for scientific discussion of the structure and function of the kidney in health and disease. From the 1960s, once clinical nephrology emerged when renal replacement therapy developed, the Renal Association grew steadily; by 1970 there 250 members reaching 1000 in 2008, and 1,400 in 2020. The scope of Renal Association activities has also continuously expanded now involving all aspects of modern nephrology and kidney care. The Renal Association has played a key role in driving the sufficient provision of chronic dialysis, and in establishing and sustaining kidney transplantation (following the first transplant in the UK performed in Edinburgh in 1960). More recently the UK Kidney Association has played a major role in improving detection and awareness of CKD (notably through eGFR reporting) and in improving detection and management of AKI. The modern UK Kidney Association is involved in education, research, training, and clinical service delivery, making up the multifaceted professional society we know today. Read more about the development and arrival of the UK Kidney Association here. 

Past Renal Association Leadership

Here is the roster of those who have been Renal Association Presidents and Honorary Secretaries since 1950, and more recently those who have been  Treasurers and also Academic and Clinical Vice Presidents: