Terms of Reference - Canadian Society of Nephrology

Terms of Reference

CSN Membership

CSN Membership includes full membership in the International Society of Nephrology.

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May 31, 2013.

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Terms of Reference

BACKGROUND

Research relevant to individuals with kidney and urological diseases is found in every biomedical research-intensive University in Canada, as well as many of the hospital-based research institutes. For the first time, Canadian researchers from all geographic regions and disciplines gathered at the Horizons 2000 and Horizons 2015 Consensus Strategic Planning Conference along with major stakeholders such as the Kidney Foundation of Canada, as a prelude to the creation of the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR).

The Horizons 2000 conference identified a critical goal to be achieved over the next 5-10 years: Building research capacity in the fields of kidneys/urological disease/transplantation through enhanced communication, collaboration and funding. Since the CIHR has not provided a specific mandate for targeted research in kidney/urological disease and transplantation, the Kidney Foundation of Canada Research Council recommended that a National Research Coalition be struck (co-chaired by Drs. Patrick Parfrey and David Ludwin) to identify the next steps in advancing the recommendations of the Horizons 2000 Conference. The members of this coalition represent leadership in all areas of kidney disease and transplantation research. A task force was struck to identify potential initiatives, and a final report was submitted to the Kidney Foundation in June 2002. This report identified new opportunities for kidney research in Canada, as well as strategies and tactics to increase research capacity.

The National Research Coalition Task Force recommended that enhanced communication, collaboration and funding for kidney research across Canada requires an organizational structure led by scientific investigators. The Canadian Society of Nephrology (CSN) represents the most appropriate organization to perform this task. In 2002, the CSN created an Ad Hoc Scientific Committee to focus on strengthening kidney research capacity in Canada. In 2005, the CSN reaffirmed the need for the Scientific committee, reconvened the committee and created a standing committee of the CSN.

Between 2002-2005, the committee focused its work on the design, development, and implementation of the Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training Program (Krescent), a unique collaboration between the CSN, KFOC, CIHR, industry, and other stakeholders, which will enhance research training capacity over the next 6 years.

In November 2007, members of the renal research community assembled for a strategic planning initiative called Horizons 2015: Enhancing Excellence and Capacity in Kidney Research, with the mandate to define both the strategic directions and mechanisms for increasing capacity in renal research over the next 8 to 15 years. This meeting was a co-ordinated effort, resulting from collaborations between the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes), the Canadian Society of Nephrology, and the Canadian Society of Transplantation. After consideration of the Horizons 2015 Consultation Report, the Kidney Research Recommendation Group (KRG) has been charged with moving forward the recommendations and priorities identified by the Horizons 2015 meeting. The CSN Scientific Committee will work with the KRG to provide input into this process.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

The CSN is the national voice of academic and clinical nephrology in Canada, and the Society has increasingly supported research training and education. The CSN created a standing Scientific Committee, to continue the work of the Ad Hoc Committee to advance the cause of kidney research in Canada, with the following longterm objectives:

The CSN Scientific Committee will continue to promote kidney research in Canada by focusing on the following issues:

A. Human Resource issues: retention and recruitment of scientists, attention to gender-specific recruitment issues, and appropriate salary support mechanisms to improve infrastructure funding for local research initiatives.

B. Advocate for the development of infrastructure to support multicentre clinical research in Canada.

C. Improved availability and funding of research training positions.

D. Partnerships with industry and other stakeholders, including the Kidney Foundation, to increase kidney research funding and capacity.

E. Improving communications amongst kidney researchers in Canada.

F. Development of a website for Canadian Kidney Research containing information about research interests and available technologies, funding opportunities, research positions, highlights etc…

G. Establishing liaisons and representation, as appropriate, within other academic societies in Canada which involve kidney research as part of their mandates (eg. CST, CSPN, CHS), in order to showcase kidney research and foster multi-disciplinary clinical trials.
The CSN Scientific Committee will endeavor to increase the attractiveness of the CSN to both basic and clinical research scientists, and to provide a forum for researchers to discuss policy issues.

Early Deliverables

Given the current membership of the CSN Scientific committee and considering the areas of need identified within the Horizons 2000 report, the CSN Scientific committee has identified several short-term goals, with relevant action plans designed to enable fulfillment of these goals:

Short-term objective	Action plan
Enhance and promote clinical research within Nephrology	1. Identify the current barriers to clinical research within Nephrology in Canada 2. Assess whether the current funding structure for clinical research enables the "best" clinical research to be performed 3. Complete an environmental scan of what is being done in other countries (US, UK, Australia) to promote kidney research 4. Recommend methods to overcome these barriers
Increase the CSN's role as an advocate for funding for Nephrology research	1. Meet with the KFOC to determine current strategy to increase research dollars and determine whether the CSN can assist 2. Investigate the feasibility of supporting patient advocacy strategies to increase kidney research funding
Development of infrastructure to support multi-centre clinical trials in Canada	1. Encourage kidney researchers to take part in CIHR Clinical Research Initiative Team Grant 2. Determine whether the CSN can facilitate the set up of such infrastructure
Determine if there are alternate ways in which the CSN can support clinical research	1. Complete an environmental scan to determine what other National Specialist Societies are doing to promote/vet clinical research.

REPORTING STRUCTURE

The Scientific Committee of the CSN will report to the President and the Executive of the CSN. The committee will hold meetings by teleconferences and prepare a report for submission to the President and the Executive of the CSN. This report will also be communicated to the Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Chair of the Kidney Foundation Research Council.

MEMBERSHIP ON THE CSN SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

The proposed members of this committee will represent a diversity of basic and clinical kidney research interests across Canada. Members of the committee (and Chairperson[s]) will be selected by the President of the CSN.

TERMS OF MEMBERS/CHAIR

Members will normally serve on this committee for a period not exceeding 3 years. Initial members may be asked to serve shorter terms (1-2 yrs), in order to provide continuity to the committee membership. The Chairperson will serve for a period of 3 years, and for no more than 2 consecutive terms.

Canadian Society of Nephrology

Supporting Nephrology Practice & Research
Room 3051 RTF
8308 - 114th Street
Edmonton, AB T6G 2V2
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