MINUTES OF THE RENAL PATHOLOGY SOCIETY BUSINESS MEETING

The Renal Pathology Society (RPS) held a business meeting on Sunday evening, November, 3, 1996 during the annual meeting of the National Kidney Foundation/American Society of Nephrology in New Orleans, Louisiana

Dr. D'Agati determined that a quorum was present and called the meeting to order. Approximately 35 members were in attendance.

Dr. DÌAgati complimented the Education and Scientific Committee for the excellent scientific session on diabetic renal disease. Dr. Agnes Fogo moderated the session, which was presented by Dr. Kumar Sharma (Mechanisms Underlining Diabetic Nephropathy), Dr. Liliane J. Striker (Renal Pathology of Diabetes) and Dr. Hans-Henrik Parving (Clinical Aspects of Diabetic Nephropathy). Dr. DÌAgati called on the Secretary-Treasurer and Committee Chairs for reports.

Dr. Jennette, Secretary-Treasurer, and Chair of the Auditing Committee gave a financial report and updated the members on the RPS incorporation process. The only expenditures over the past year have been the receptions at the NKF/ASN and USCAP meetings and the first annual RPS Young Investigator Award. A budget surplus is being maintained in anticipation of expenses to be incurred during incorporation and acquisition of independent tax exempt status. Currently the RPS tax exempt status is tied to that of the University of North Carolina.

Dr. Jennette also reviewed the results of the recent RPS survey on renal biopsy numbers and procedures. A number of additional analyses were suggested, including soliciting data from members who had not responded to the survey.

Dr. Mel Schwartz, in the absence of Dr. Stephen Bonsib, Chair of the Membership Committee, reported that 27 candidates for membership would be recommended to the Board of Directors for acceptance.

Dr. Jennette, in the absence of Dr. Fred Silva, Chair of the Nominating and Awards Committee, announced that the Committee had nominated Dr. Robert Colvin for Vice President (President Elect), and Dr. Helmut Rennke and Dr. Melvin Schwartz for the one open Councillor seat. Dr. DÌAgati opened the floor for additional nominations but there were none.

Dr. Jennette also announced that the RPS Young Investigator Award recipient for research presented at the NKF/ASN Meeting was Dr. Tsuyoshi Oikawa, who was sponsored by Dr. Fogo. Dr. OikawaÌs presentation was "Modulation of palsminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in vivo: A new mechanism for the anti-fibrotic effect of renin-angiotensin inhibition". Dr. Jennette encouraged members to nominate trainees for the Award at the USCAP Meeting.

Dr. Agnes Fogo, Chair of the Education and Scientific Meetings Committee, reported that the Committee was organizing a scientific session dealing with prognostic markers of renal disease at the USCAP Companion Meeting of the RPS on March 3, 1997. Speakers will be Dr. Cynthia Nast (fine needle aspiration), Dr. Richard Tracy (hypertensive vasculopathies), Dr. Lorraine Racusen (molecular markers in acute renal failure), and Dr. Wayne Hancock (transcriptional factors, functional surface molecules and cytokines in inflammatory and immunologic injury).

Dr. Kashgarian, Chair of the Training Programs Committee, had no new issues to discuss.

Dr. Nast, Chair of the Communications and Publications Committee, discussed plans for producing a RPS member directory that would include e-mail addresses. Dr. Nast will work with Dr. Jennette to develop the directory. A method for ÏgroupÓ e- mail communications also will be developed.

Dr. D'Agati asked if there was any additional old business to be discussed and none was raised. The floor was opened for new business.

Dr. DÌAgati announced that there would be a RPS dinner at the Orlando USCAP at which a number of the Ïfounding fathersÓ of renal pathology in the U.S.A. would be honored. (The individuals who will be honored were announced later and are Jay Bernstein, Jacob Churg, Robert Heptinstall, Benjamin Spargo, Conrad Pirani, and Robert McCluskey).

Dr. Surya Seshan announced the inception of the Jacob Churg Award, which will be given annually to an individual who has made major contributions to the field of nephropathology. The Award will be funded by Barnert Hospital where Dr. Churg spent a substantial portion of his career. The first Churg Award will be given during a RPS dinner at the 1997 USCAP Meeting in Orlando. Awardees will be nominated by RPS members and selected from the nominations by the RPS Nominations and Awards Committee. Nominations, which should include a letter from the nominator and a C.V. of the nominee, should be sent to the Chair of this Committee, Dr. Vivette DÌAgati.

Dr. DÌAgati raised the issue of renal biopsy needle size, and a general discussion ensued. She was particularly concerned that 18 gauge needles provide cores that are too small for optimum evaluation. Dr. DÌAgati suggested that the RPS should set and publish guidelines for specimen adequacy. A show of hands indicated that many members were experiencing increasing problems with inadequate specimens. Dr. Stillman noted that attendance of the renal pathologist at the site of biopsy improved specimen quality. Dr. Mandal advised that there should be open communication between nephrologists and pathologists could help alleviate problems with renal biopsy specimen acquisition and interpretation.

Dr. Gaber raised the issue of guidelines for renal biopsy expenses, e.g. should electron microscopy be done on all native kidney specimens. Dr. Cohen stated that renal biopsy numbers were increasing in California while reimbursement was decreasing. Dr. Hass indicated that there was pressure to keep the cost of evaluating referred specimens low. Dr. Colvin advised that continued publication of data documenting the value of renal biopsies is important.

It was noted that the newly formed Council of American Kidney Societies had declined to include the RPS as a member.

There was discussion of the upcoming change in the format of the annual NKF/ASN meeting to an exclusively ASN meeting and the ramifications that this would have for the RPS. Dr. Colvin suggested that it would be very important for the pathologist on the program committee (Dr. Liliane Striker) to be proactive in preserving a role for the RPS at the meeting. Dr. Cohen, the President Elect, indicated that he also would be active in pursing this goal.

Dr. Alpers raised concerns about a recent initiative of the NIH (headed by Dr. Mike Mauer) to set standards for pathologic evaluation of renal disease that did not include renal pathologists. There was agreement that this was inappropriate.

There was a general discussion of the possibility of involving the RPS members in collaborative research efforts. This was strongly supported. A motion was made and adopted to add a standing committee, the Research Committee, that would initiate and implement such efforts.

The Business Meeting was adjourned and the members were invited to a RPS reception that followed immediately.

At the Executive Board Meeting the following new members were accepted: Fred Sanfilippo. M.D., Ph.D., Alexander James Howie, M.D., Dontscho Kerjaschki, M.D., John P. Dowling, MBBS, FRCPA, FRCPath, Ihsan Housani, M.D., Jan A. Bruijn, M.D., Ph.D., Parmjeet S. Randhawa, M.D., Johannes Bjornsson, M.D., Wilhelm Kriz, M.D., Ruth Osterby M.D., Marie-Laure Brisson, M.D., Karel J. M. Assmann, M.D., Finn P. Reinholt, M.D., Ph.D., Jan J. Weening, M.D., Barbara Young, M.B., B. Chir., Ph.D., Laure-Helen Noel, M.D., Peter Molloy, M.D., Carrie L. Phillips, M.D., Carol W. Sexton, M.D., Steen Olsen, M.D., Helen Liapis, M.D., Fatimah B. Abdulkareem, M.B. B. Chir., Kiril Trpkov, M.D., Linda Marilyn Sugar, M.D., James S. A. Neill, M.D., Seife Hailemariam, M.D. and Robert L. Yowell, M.D., Ph.D.