Explore every episode of the podcast A pinch of salt - A podcast by ERA

Ilaria Gandolfini, from the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy — not far from the ERA headquarters — unpacks the changing landscape of infection prophylaxis for renal transplant recipients in 2025. In this dense and informative episode, she highlights the current infectious challenges in renal transplantation, the emergence of new infectious risks, the development of novel treatment options, and reviews both prophylactic and preemptive strategies.

Christophe Mariat, from Saint-Étienne, France, and Chair of the ERA DESCaRTES Working Group, takes us through the complex topic of adapting anti-rejection treatment in the context of a failing renal graft. He shares valuable insights on renal graft survival rates, strategies for adjusting immunosuppressive treatments when the kidney starts failing, and the adaptations needed in antirejection strategies once dialysis is resumed.

We have the honour to chat with David Cooper, a living legend in xenotransplantation, who has followed this field for over half a century. This is a captivating discussion about the evolution of xenotransplantation, exploring the scientific, ethical, and practical aspects of building this emerging ecosystem, a field we all observe with great curiosity and high expectations.

We know, C3 glomerulopathy is a difficult subject. All this complement talk will make a person tired and slightly confused. Here’s your chance to discover this disease in an easy yet comprehensive and meaningful way. Marina Vivarelli, C3G-s enemy in chief, is going to share the most important information about this disease, everything from the pathophysiology and genetics, to diagnostics, differential diagnosis, the link between C3G and immune complex GN, treatment and so much more. And all of this explained in a way that even we could understand. You’ll C3. Dive in and find out for yourself.

Ever wanted to attend a master class on IgG4-related disease? Even if your answer is no, you still won’t want to miss this episode of A Pinch of Salt. John Stone, a world renowned expert in IgG4RD, is going to share all the clinically relevant details on how to diagnose IgG4RD, how to do the staging, how important is a biopsy, which lab tests to use to assess disease activity, how to treat these patients and how to assess the response to therapy. Everything you never knew you wanted to know about IgG4RD in one place. Your patients will be grateful. 

Everything about atypical HUS is atypical, and frankly a bit annoying. The differential diagnosis is as wide as the ocean and when it comes to genetics, well that would make even a psychologically stable fellow nervous. Luckily, we’ve found help of the highest degree. Neil Sheerin has been tackling this animal for ages and has gotten to know all of its tricks and dirty plays. Tune in to our atypical HUS episode and gain the upper ground on this beast. Learn about diagnosis, lab testing, treatment, stopping treatment, genetics and transplantation in this easy-to-follow episode of A Pinch of Salt. You’ll see clearly now the pain is gone. 

Steroids have long been a cornerstone in treating ANCA-associated vasculitis, but their toxicity remains a significant challenge. Could Avacopan, a selective oral C5a receptor antagonist, provide a safer and more effective alternative? In this episode, you’ll hear about what’s new in the pathophysiology of ANCA vasculitis, current remission induction therapies, the place of Avacopan in the treatment protocols and future possibilities for managing this complex condition. Guiding us through these topics is Lorraine Harper, a distinguished specialist from the University of Birmingham, whose expertise in immunology and vasculitis offers invaluable insights into the latest advancements. 

In this episode of A Pinch of Salt, you'll get the unique opportunity of trying to experience what it's actually like to be a dialysis patient, a kidney failure patient, what are the issues they're dealing with and how can we as physicians help them get through the day. I think it's one of the valuable opportunities that you really shouldn't miss because at the end of the day we really want to help them, don’t we? Listen to the episode with Malene Deele, a kidney failure patient, also chairman of the Danish Kidney Association.

We’re focusing on a challenging topic: anticoagulation in CKD patients with atrial fibrillation. With up to 25% of CKD patients affected, managing this common arrhythmia is no easy task. How do we balance stroke prevention and bleeding risks? What’s the role of DOACs versus vitamin K antagonists? And should dialysis patients even receive anticoagulation? Are there any new treatment options? To help us untangle these questions, we’re joined by Frida Welander from Karolinska University, Sweden, an expert on the field. Don’t miss this insightful discussion.

We’ve probably all noticed that our nurses have a different perspective of our patients than the one we do ourselves and maybe we can say that often their perspective is closer to what the patient is feeling, so it’s definitely a fresh outlook. We will be talking about this with Jeanette Finderup in our episode on the nurse’s perspective, where you can expect to hear about what she thinks the role of the nurse is, what she thinks the role of the nurse is not, and how we could collaborate for the benefit of our patients to provide them with the most comprehensive healthcare that we can. 

Today, we address a crucial and evolving topic: the Approach to Conservative Care for ESKD Patients. This area has garnered increasing attention at national and international levels, reflecting the need for better detection, diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies tailored to this growing patient population.
We’re joined by Prof. Holly Koncicki, Associate Professor at Mount Sinai Health System, New York, USA, who will help us explore whether conservative care could be considered a legitimate therapeutic option for ESKD, how do we define and engage the target population and what tools and approaches can optimize conservative care delivery.

In this episode, we explore sex and gender disparities in the epidemiology and outcomes of chronic kidney disease. Did you know that women are less likely to receive a CKD diagnosis, visit a nephrologist, or access guideline-recommended therapies—even in developed countries?
To help us unpack these critical issues, we're joined by Professor Adeera Levin, Head of the Division of Nephrology at the University of British Columbia in Canada
Together, we’ll discuss the biological, societal, and systemic barriers driving these disparities and, more importantly, how we can overcome them. 

You’ve probably all heard about Imlifidase, the new miracle drug which is capable of bringing down IgG from normal levels to virtually zero in a matter of hours. Is this going to be a revolution in transplantation, particularly for allosensitized patients? You can get the answers to these questions by listening to our podcast with Rainer Oberbauer on Imlifidase. You can expect to hear how the drug works, how well it performs, particularly in allosensitized individuals, and what are the tips and tricks for using this drug. 

In this ANCA vasculitis episode we will be talking to Vladimir Tesar about the new KDIGO guidelines – what are the novelties, how we should treat ANCA vasculitis patients in this day and age, some difficult cases will be discussed, plasma exchange, rituximab, and much, much more.

In this episode, we explore the latest insights on treating arterial hypertension in 2025. With updates from the European Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Cardiology, the standards for blood pressure management are evolving rapidly.
Joining us is Pantelis Sarafidis from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. What’s new in these guidelines? How do they redefine hypertension management, particularly for patients with kidney disease? And what does the treatment algorithm look like for 2025 and beyond?

How do I start a research project? How do I join a research team? How does one get financing for research projects? How do I understand medical publishing and how to thrive in it? We've all been there, my friend. Andreas Kronbichler has been there too. As our next guest of our research related, A Pinch of Salt podcast, he will try to answer these questions. And I believe you'll find them informative. Check it out.

Renal pathology is about much more than diagnosis, it’s about decoding the mechanisms of diseases like glomerular and tubulointerstitial disorders to shape more effective, personalized treatments. In this episode, we’ll dive into the methodologies behind renal biopsies, and the critical role they play in guiding treatment strategies. Looking ahead, we’ll also discuss the future of renal pathology and its impact on the care we provide. Joining us is Ingeborg Bajema from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. A renowned expert in the field, she’ll share her perspective on current biopsy techniques, the changes we’ve seen in renal pathology, and the exciting possibilities for the years ahead. 
Stay tuned, and let’s uncover the intricate connections between renal pathology and better patient care.

In today’s episode, we’re focusing on a crucial yet often under-discussed subject: the role of vaccination in chronic kidney disease. Patients with CKD are at a markedly increased risk of infections, a vulnerability compounded by factors like impaired immunity, dialysis, and immunosuppressive therapies. Vaccination, therefore, plays an indispensable role in safeguarding their health. In this episode, we’ll examine which vaccines are recommended for CKD patients. We’ll also address the challenges of ensuring vaccine efficacy in immunosuppressed patients and explore how vaccination practices should be tailored across various CKD stages. Our guest is Nina Babel from the University of Bochum in Germany, a renowned expert on this subject.
This episode combines scientific insights with practical advice to equip you with the knowledge in order to enhance patient care. Check it out!

Navigating through the field of genetics is challenging and something one shouldn't do alone. Check out our episode on genetics and kidney disease with our guest, Emilie Cornec-Le Gall. You can expect to hear about when we should do genetic testing. How do we interpret the results? Do we need a geneticist for the interpretation? What exactly is the variant of unknown significance and much more? Genetics will never feel the same.

Polycystic kidney disease, multicystic kidney disease, kidney cancer risk, kidney failure risk, exploding brain arteries risk. Join us on our next podcast with Roman Ulrich-Müller and explore with us the vagaries and uncertainties of polycystic kidney disease. You can expect to hear about the difference between polycystic and multicystic kidney disease, how to diagnose PKD, when should we do genetic testing, and what can we get out of them, and much, much more. Join us.

Growing up isn’t just about age, it’s about healthcare too! In this episode of A Pinch of Salt, we explore the challenging shift from paediatric to adult nephrology  with Arvind Nagra. Learn how to empower young kidney patients to take charge of their health. Check it out!

Disasters are an unavoidable part of life, whether caused by nature or human actions. The impact of a disaster, however, often depends on our level of preparedness—a challenge when facing events we’ve never experienced before. Join us as we talk with Serhan Tuğlular, former Chair of the ERA’s Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force, who shares insights on how to better prepare and minimize devastation. This is a conversation that could save lives—don’t miss it!

Molecules and pathways come to mind, but solutions seem elusive. That’s why we’re bringing you an insightful episode from A Pinch of Salt on vascular calcification and calciphylaxis, featuring renowned specialists Smeeta Sinha. Join her as she guides you through the intricate pathways of this challenging topic in a dynamic, engaging discussion.

In this episode we explore the unique challenges of pregnancy and kidney disease with guest Matt Hall, a leading expert in maternal medicine and obstetric nephrology. Hall shares insights into the latest advancements in supporting women with CKD who wish to start a family. Don’t miss this essential conversation!

People say that dinosaurs are extinct but apparently, that is not the case. You see, there are some of us who grew up and learned about nephrology in different times, times with no internet, no smartphone, no social media. A time that we might now refer to as the golden age, while others, who are younger and with far better skin, will refer to it as the age of dinosaurs. If you are one of these, likely to roar in frustration when opening one social media platform or the other, we have a podcast just for you. Meet Samira Farouk, a trail blazing social media nephrologist and much more, who will try to teach us dinosaurs how to tackle the jungle of social media. There’s stuff out there in the jungle that you might want to know about. Check out the new podcast - Social media in nephrology, a crash course, with Samira Farouk, only on A Pinch of Salt.  

CKD-MBD can be a most confusing field. When we start learning about it, we are usually focused on lowering PTH levels, only to find out that in many scenarios high PTH levels are the consequence of PTH resistance and that overactivity of PTH might not even be the issue. But maybe PTH is not what we should be focusing on, maybe it’s phosphate and yet, how do we lower that efficiently? Treatment with vitamin D can lower PTH and increase phosphate. But at the end of the day, laboratory results might not be the main problem, maybe we should really focus on vascular calcifications? It’s complicated. We tried to untangle these dilemmas with Mathias Haarhaus, the current Chair of the CKD-MBD Working Group, in our new Podcast on CKD-MBD. Learn how to take care of your patients from someone with a lot of experience. It will certainly help. 

National and international renal registries have significantly diversified their activities in recent years. The ERA Registry is committed to a wide range of population-based research activities. With extensive accumulated experience and a top-class staff, it is engaged in numerous research projects, cohort studies, and other scientific initiatives. Alberto Ortiz is the Chair of the ERA Registry Committee and is involved in groundbreaking research projects, including assistance with coding and definitions, as well as the EQUAL study. Check it out!