The American Society Nephrology (ASN) is pleased to announce that Raymond C. Harris, MD, FASN , has been selected as the incoming ASN Co-Chair for the Kidney Health Initiative (KHI). Dr. Harris will serve a three-year term, starting in January 2019.  Dr. Harris will succeed Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN, who has served six years as KHI’s founding co-chair.

Dr. Harris is a professor of medicine, molecular physiology, and biophysics, and is also the Director of the Vanderbilt Center for Kidney Disease (VCKD). Dr. Harris previously served as the chief of the nephrology division of Vanderbilt University’s Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Harris served as ASN President in 2016.

“We’re pleased that Dr. Harris will share his leadership acumen as the second ASN co-chair for KHI—he’s passionate about the Kidney Health Initiative and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience,” said ASN President Mark D. Okusa, MD, FASN. “He brings enthusiasm and skill for engaging diverse groups to achieve a common vision.”

This announcement marks an exciting and important transition for KHI. The next co-chair will preside over an organization seeking to translate success in projects relating to individual questions in nephrology to addressing bigger, more integrated projects. A key to success over the next three years will be increasing KHI’s influence to help develop new therapies for kidney diseases and enhancing patient participation in those developments. Dr. Harris says he will work with the KHI Board of Directors to sustain our current level of stakeholder enthusiasm – particularly the robust network among industry partners – and to support ASN’s close working relationship with the FDA”.

As a mature and well-functioning organization, Dr. Harris understands the importance of a close relationship with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and member enthusiasm to KHI’s future. For patients with kidney diseases, Dr. Harris envisions a focus on incorporating precision medicine and individualized care to provide better quality of life for the full spectrum of kidney patients.

Understanding biomarkers and disease pathogenesis are a KHI strategic priority. Dr. Harris’s experience as a basic scientist will bring renewed focus on novel urine and blood biomarkers for clinical trials.

Dr. Harris will lead the largest consortia in the kidney community with over 90-member organizations from every stakeholder group in nephrology. KHI’s mission is to advance scientific understanding of kidney health and patient safety implications of new and existing medical products and to foster development of therapies for diseases that affect the kidney by creating a collaborative environment in which FDA and the greater nephrology community can interact to optimize evaluation of drugs, devices, biologics, and food products.

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