King's College London

Aims

To advance research, innovation and education in critical care nephrology in children in collaboration with related specialties (hepatology, respiratory, trauma, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, perioperative medicine etc). Identify strategies that enable personalised management of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) to study the mechanisms and role of new blood purification strategies in acute kidney injury and associated acute illnesses. Investigate the physiological consequences of acute kidney injury on other organ systems and identify tools for early recognition and management (organ cross-talk). Identify tools and strategies to improve the long-term outcomes of patients who survive an episode of acute kidney injury.

Focus areas

• Use of biomarkers to identify various types of AKI in liver disease
• Study the impact of CRRT on short and long-term outcomes in children with liver failure
• Rationalise use of plasma exchange
• Optimising the use of blood purification technologies (such as renal replacement therapy and hemadsorption techniques) to support patients with AKI and multi-organ failure
• Integrating physiological principles, technological advancements, and personalised care strategies in the management of AKI to enhance patient outcomes.
• Facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration and research to drive evidence-based innovation in critical care nephrology
• Organise the 3-yearly international Conference on Critical Care Nephrology in Children where > 500 delegates from > 50 countries attend, next one is in August 2027

Leadership

• Prof Akash Deep – Founding Chair of Critical Care Nephrology Section – European Society of Paediatric and neonatal Intensive Care; Founding Host for the International Congress of Critical Care nephrology in Children, London; > 50 publications in the field of Critical Care Nephrology

Theme Membership and Internal collaborators

• Dr Pam D’Silva – KCH PICU, Ex Lead for CRRT at King’s
• Dr Manal Alasnag – Evelina PICU, Lead for Retrieval, Medical Lead for CRRT at Evelina
• Dr Lidia Casanueva – RBH PICU, Lead for CRRT at the Brompton
• Kerry Murphy – KCH PICU CRRT Lead nurse, taught on National and International CRRT conferences
• Sue Taylor – KCH PICU CRRT Lead nurse, taught on National and International CRRT conferences