December 2005

An ISN Bellagio Summit - Preventing vascular diseases around the world

Prevention of vascular diseases in the emerging world: A multidisciplinary approach to global health equity



During a unique, multidisciplinary and strategic 3-day Summit meeting the ISN - in collaboration with the International Diabetes Federation, the World Heart Federation, the International Society of Hypertension, the International Atherosclerosis Society, and representatives from WHO and the EU - will once again pioneer prevention.

Convening a group of 26 thought leaders and decision makers drawn equally from the developed and developing worlds, discussions will focus on how best to manage the growing burden of chronic renal disease and associated vascular diseases.

Supported by a grant from the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation, this ISN Summit meeting has been specifically crafted to tackle the alarming global shift in the leading causes of death. Nutritional deficiency and infectious diseases no longer account for the highest mortality statistics: the new leaders are non-communicable diseases, with cardiovascular disease rating as the deadliest of all.

The accelerating rates of chronic non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and chronic renal disease are racing out of control, and for many nations, the burden is already too heavy to bear.

Structured to address this shift and rise to the challenge of managing the global burden of vascular diseases, the Summit's 3-day program reflects developed and developing world perspectives. The meeting will conclude with a workshop focused on establishing a consensus statement and the formulation of concrete recommendations for implementation.

Program Topics will include:

"WHO perspective", "Prevention of Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease" "Epidemic of diabetes" and several programs for prevention of vascular diseases in the emerging world will be highlighted referring to India, Venezuela, China, Pakistan and Africa.

For more information please contact:

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Remuzzi, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Tel: +39 035 319888, [email protected] Amanda Wren, International Society of Nephrology, Tel: +32 473938672 [email protected]

Editors' Notes

1) In March 2004, ISN organized a first special strategic Summit to focus on the "Prevention of Renal Disease in the Emerging World: Toward Global Health Equality". This highly successful event was also generously hosted and supported by the Rockefeller Foundation in their retreat-style compound in Bellagio, Italy.

2) The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) is a not-for-profit society whose mission is the global advancement of nephrology. ISN promotes research and education to prevent and treat kidney disease throughout the world. Further information is available at www.isn-online.org or by calling +32-2-743 1546.