Research Committee Terry Cook, Chair
      Members: Emile de Heer, Steven Emancipator, Peter Furness, Andrew Herzenberg

• On-going projects
• The paper on dense deposit disease prepared by Patrick Walker, Steve Bonsib, Franco Ferrario and Kensuke Joh will be submitted to Kidney International in the near future
• IgA nephropathy. The IgA nephropathy pathologists group met in Atlanta on 11th February 2006 to discuss the results of the initial slide circulation exercise. The score sheets will be amended accordingly in preparation for the next slide circulation. Peter Furness has suggested that, in due course, the UK EQA scheme could be used to test the reproducibility of the IgA biopsy scoring scheme amongst a group of renal pathologists
• New projects:  Several proposals have been made by members of the committee and are under consideration
• Classification of diabetic nephropathy. This is a proposal put forward by Emile de Heer and potentially has three strands. 1) A histopathological scoring system to improve prognostication; 2)  A study of the relationship of carnosinase-1 genotype to histology in different ethnic groups; 3) A study of which treatments are effective in slowing progression of diabetic nephropathy
• A study of how to assess thin membrane nephropathy – Peter Furness
• Research into the provision of renal pathology services in developing countries

I have written to all the RPS members to ask whether there are any projects they would like to submit to the research committee for review.

Research Committee – Mission/Objectives/Policies

Mission
The Mission of the Research Committee is to promote collaborative research among the members of the Renal Pathology Society.

Objectives
There are many clinical renal research projects that can be carried on by members either on their own or in collaboration with other renal pathologists as they see fit. However, there are certain kinds of studies that would benefit from the wider reach of the renal Pathology Society as a whole. Some studies may not even be possible without such extensive collaboration. There is also the serious problem of medical renal disease classification. The Renal Pathology Society, by way of the Research Committee, is in a unique position to provide a framework for the development and testing of potential classification systems.

Policies
Research Studies
There are two levels of research collaboration sanctioned by the Renal Pathology Society.
Level I studies are initiated and sponsored by the Society under the direction of the Board of Directors. These studies are presented first to the Board of Directors for authorization and then to the membership as a whole for approval. These studies may or may not be supported financially by the Society depending on the needs of the study and the resources available. The role of the Research Committee in Level I studies is purely supportive as these studies are directed by the Board of Directors usually through an ad hoc subcommittee. Publication of the results of Level I studies will be identified as “A report of the Renal Pathology Society” on the Title line of the manuscript and carry the authority of the Society.  An example of such a study is the ‘ISN/RPS Lupus Classification’ paper.
Level II studies are initiated by members of the Society and submitted to the Research Committee for input and support. These studies are directed by members of the Renal Pathology Society with extensive input and support from the Research Committee. The Research Committee keeps the membership and the Board of Directors updated on the progress of these programs at the regular business meetings of the Society. Publication of the results of Level II studies will be identified as “A report by members of the Renal Pathology Society” on the author line of the manuscript. Non-author contributors will be acknowledged as members of the Renal Pathology Society contributing to the manuscript in the ‘Acknowledgments’ section. These studies do not carry the authority of the Society.  An example of such a study is the ‘Practice Guidelines for the Renal Biopsy’ paper.
Role of the Committee
The chairman should solicit the membership for level II research projects by email and by way of the RPS website. The committee should aid any member developing a submission in forming the proposal and executing the project as needed. The committee should review projects and a recommendation to the Board of Directors made by email.

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