Online Courses

The ISN-ANIO Clinical Nephropathology Certificate Program

Through a partnership, the ISN supports the online ISN-ANIO Clinical Nephropathology Certificate Program.

The Clinical Nephropathology Certificate (CNC) Program consists of year-long, online educational programs in basic and advanced nephropathology courses.

Launched in 2013 and 2019 respectively, the successful CNC Basic and Advanced Courses feature live webinars, pre-recorded lectures available on-demand, quizzes, and exams.

Pathologists and nephrologists worldwide seeking training in the principles and practice of nephropathology are encouraged to apply. However, applicants from low and middle-income countries are given priority.

  • Identify the key principles in the preparation of kidney biopsy material – preparation of sections for LM, IF, and EM. Review the different staining techniques and their purpose.
  • Apply knowledge of different kidney injury patterns observed in histopathologic specimens in classifying syndromes of nephron injury and integrating this knowledge into the management of clinical presentations of kidney diseases.
  • Use newly gained knowledge of specific kidney syndromes or diseases (e.g., acute kidney injury, autoimmune kidney disease, diabetic kidney disease, genetic kidney disease, hepatorenal syndrome, pregnancy-related kidney disease) to infer pathophysiologic mechanisms and apply this to the management of patients.
  • Use updated knowledge of kidney pathology for better patient management.

Program Structure:
The CNC program spans over one year and includes over 40 recorded online lectures and 12 live webinars (one per month).

Graduation Requirements:
The course attendees are required to attend >75% of the live webinars and obtain a “pass” mark (a score greater than two standard deviations below the class mean) in both a mid-year and final exam to receive the certificate.

Application Information:
Tuition Fees: $495.00 (USD).
Tuition fees are waived for trainees in MD, DNB, DM, or Ph.D. from low and lower-middle-income countries.
Payments are made through PayPal or by credit card (instructions are sent upon acceptance to the program).

Application Deadline: on hold until further notice
Program Start Date: to be determined

Application form: Applicants must complete an online application form by the deadline. If the applicant is a trainee, they must submit proof of training and a letter of endorsement from their department chair.

This course includes advanced general and transplant nephropathology, pediatric nephrology, onco-nephrology, and other emerging issues in nephropathology.

The program is available to past graduates by invitation only, and registration is on a first paid, first-served basis, up to a maximum of 75 people per year. There are no midterm and final exams; however, there are mandatory quizzes after each webinar.

Application Information:
Tuition Fees: $595.00 (USD).
All registrants must pay tuition fees. No tuition waiver applies. Payments are made through PayPal. No application form is necessary. A payment link is sent to eligible candidates who completed the Basic CNC Course and received an ISN-ANIO CNC certificate.

Application Deadline: to be determined
Program Start Date: to be determined

Co-directors and Primary CNC Faculty:

• Vanesa Bijol, MD, Professor and Chief of Renal Pathology, Department of Pathology, Northwell Health System, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine

• Youssef Farag, MD, PhD, MPH, Senior Medical Director of Translational and Clinical Development, Goldfinch Bio, Inc., and Associate Faculty in the Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

• Kenar D Jhaveri, MD, Professor and Associate Chief of Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension, Northwell Health System, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine

Director, Renal Transplant Pathology Curriculum, Advanced CNC:

• Ibrahim Batal, MD, Associate Professor of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Featured CNC Faculty:
• Gerald B. Appel, MD, Director of Clinical Nephrology, Columbia University Medical Center
• Jamil Azzi, MD, Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Anil K. Chandraker, MD, Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Robert Colvin, MD, Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Bradley Denker, MD, Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Fernando Fervenza, MD, Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic
• Anna Greka, MD, Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• David Mount, MD, Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Helmut Rennke, MD, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Leonardo Riella, MD, Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Jai Radhakrishnan, MD, Renal Division, Columbia University
• Ajay K. Singh, MD, Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• David. J. Salant, MD, Boston University
• Sanjeev Sethi, MD, Department of Pathology, Mayo Clinic
• Sushrut Waikar, MD, Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Astrid Weins, MD, Ph.D., Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

For any questions on the course and the application process, please contact the ISN-ANIO CNC Co-Director, Dr. Youssef Farag.

If you have any questions about the ISN-ANIO Programs, please contact the ISN-ANIO Programs Coordinator.