Dear Friends and Colleagues,

As COVID-19 continues to threaten human health across the world without signs of abating in the second half of 2020, the Organizing Committee has decided to hold the 18th Asian Pacific Congress of Nephrology in a FULLY VIRTUAL format as scheduled on 2 - 4 Oct 2020. 

The scientific program committee co-chaired by Katherine Barraclough (Australia) and CC Szeto (Hong Kong) has fine tuned the program to suit these purposes while upholding the original theme Combating CKD in the Asia Pacific: Local Strategies for a Global Problem to embrace important topics in chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, glomerulonephritis, and advances in dialysis and transplantation. In addition, a COVID-19 dedicated symposium has been created to address pertinent issues related to COVID-19 in nephrology.

We are thankful to the unwavering support of all our invited speakers who will be delivering their state-of-the-art lectures from around the world in this first ever fully virtual international nephrology conference in Asia. Our world-class plenary speakers are 2019 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine Sir Peter J Ratcliffe (University of Oxford), Anushka Patel (The George Institute for Global Health) and Kwok-Yung Yuen (The University of Hong Kong).

We are also pleased to announce a discounted registration for APSN members and all abstract presenters. Pre-congress courses are now offered free for all registrants, and online registration is extended up until 25 Sep 2020. The Local Organizing Committee together with the APSN is committed to crafting a fruitful program and a memorable experience. Please join the first virtual APCN!

Prof. Sydney CW TANG Congress President 18th Asian Pacific Congress of Nephrology

Prof. Masaomi NANGAKU President Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology