Quantitative Morphology in Kidney Research

Event Details

Goals

1. Review the principles of stereological analysis, including design-based and model-based methods, and their application to kidney research using animal and human tissue, with a focus on accurate determination of glomerular number and podocyte number.
2. Review the range of valid histomorphometric methods that can be used to generate estimates of these parameters, with varying degrees of precision and accuracy.
3. Discuss what preclinical and clinical studies will be required prior to any kidney morphology parameter being accepted as a surrogate marker to facilitate drug development.
4. Review novel approaches using in vivo imaging techniques to assess kidney tissue structure.
5. Consider additional quantitative kidney tissue measurements (e.g., capillary density).

Steering Committee

John Bertram, Monash University, Australia
Agnes Fogo, Vanderbilt University
Kevin Lemley, University of Southern California Co-Chair
Michael Mauer, University of Minnesota
Roger Wiggins, University of Michigan

NIH

Jeffrey Kopp, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Co-Chair
Paul Kimmel, NIDDK
Marva Moxey-Mims, NIDDKK
Robert Nelson, NIDDK
Steve Hewitt, National Cancer Institute

Agenda

February 13, 2012

3:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Registration and Light Refreshments

3:30 - 3:35 p.m.

Introduction and Goals
Robert Star, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Jeffrey Kopp, NIDDK

3:35 - 4:20 p.m.

Overview: Principles of Stereology and Applications to Research Settings
John Bertram, Monash University, Australia

4:20 - 4:40 p.m.

Discussion

4:40 - 5:10 p.m.

Glomerular Numbers: Population Differences and Clinical Outcomes
Wendy Hoy, The University of Queensland, Australia

5:10 - 5:30 p.m.

Discussion

5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion: Challenges and Unresolved Issues in Determining Glomerular Number in Autopsy and Biopsy Studies
John Bertram (Chair), Monash University, Australia
Bryan Myers, Stanford University
Julie Ingelfinger, Harvard University
Michael Mauer, University of Minnesota
Kathryn White, Newcastle University, United Kingdom

6:30 p.m.

Adjourn for the Day

February 14, 2012

7:30 - 8:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

8:00 - 8:45 a.m.

Podocyte Number: Methods to Estimate Podocyte Number
Kevin Lemley, University of Southern California

8:45 - 9:00 a.m.

Discussion

9:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Genetic Variation in Podocyte Number: Lessons From Mice
Erwin Bottinger, Mount Sinai Hospital School of Medicine

9:30 - 9:45 a.m.

Discussion

9:45 - 10:15 a.m.

Correlations Between Podocyte Number, Podocyte Volume, and Podocyte Loss
Roger Wiggins, University of Michigan

10:15 - 10:30 a.m.

Discussion

10:30 - 10:45 a.m.

Break

10:45 - 11:30 a.m.

Panel Discussion: Is it Possible to Accurately Measure Podocyte Number in Clinical Biopsy Material?
Kevin Lemley (Chair), University of Southern California
Behzad Najafian, University of Washington
John Basgen, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Jennifer Weil, NIDDK
Susanne Nicholas, University of California, Los Angeles

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Quantitative Morphology to Generate Surrogate Outcomes: Morphologic Changes as Surrogate Outcomes - How Are These Defined and Validated? FDA Perspective.
Aliza Thompson and Lynne Yao, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

12:15 - 12:45 p.m.

Discussion

12:45 - 1:45 p.m.

Lunch

1:45 - 2:15 p.m.

Frontiers: Imaging Approaches to Cortical Volume and Glomerular Number
Kevin Bennett, Arizona State University

2:15 - 2:45 p.m.

Panel Discussion
Norbert Gretz, University of Heidelberg, Germany
Takamune Takahashi, Vanderbilt University

Breakout Sessions

2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Glomerular Area and Volume
John Bertram, Monash University, Australia
Wendy Hoy, The University of Queensland, Australia

Interstitial Capillaries
Michael Mauer, University of Minnesota
Agnes Fogo, Vanderbilt University

Interstitial Fibrosis
Kevin Lemley, University of Southern California
Cindy Nast, Cedars-Sinai

Digital Pathology
Stephen Hewitt, National Cancer Institute
Laura Barisoni, New York University Langone Medical Center

3:45 - 4:15 p.m.

Break

4:15 - 4:45 p.m.

Breakout Reports and Summary
Kevin Lemley, University of Southern California

4:45 p.m.

Adjournment