The 13th NephMadness competition, a celebration of “all things nephrology,” officially tipped off on March 1, 2025.
The month-long event hosted by AJKD Blog, is an online, interactive, educational activity modeled on March Madness, the annual US college basketball tournament, with the exception that nephrology topics fill in for basketball teams.
Social media tools are used to encourage a good-natured, robust discussion about the latest news and breakthroughs in the field of nephrology. The goal is to choose which topic in the “bracket” will most likely change the practice of nephrology over the next five years.
The competition starts with eight main topics (regions), with each divided into two competing subtopics (teams). Each region is introduced by an in-depth review of the subject by an author and overseen by an expert in the field. Official winners for each matchup are determined by the nine members of the Blue Ribbon Panel.
Lineup 2025:
Resistant Hypertension: Renal Denervation versus Novel Drugs for Hypertension
Selection Committee Member: Jordana Cohen @jordy_bc — @jordybc.bsky.social
Writer: Stephanie Torres Rodriguez @stephanietr612 — @stephanietr612.bsky.social
Disaster Nephrology: Kidney Care in Natural Disasters versus Kidney Care in Conflicts
Selection Committee Member: Mehmet Sever
Writer: Rasha Raslan
Genetics: Genetics in FSGS versus Genetic Counseling
Selection Committee Member: Jordan Nestor @thenestor.bsky.social
Writer: Matt Gross
CAR-T for Kidney Disease: CAR-T for Autoimmune Disease versus CAR-T Side Effects
Selection Committee Member: Jeffrey Sparks @jeffsparks — @jeffsparks.bsky.social
Writer: Yara Mouawad
Hemodialysis: Hemodiafiltration versus Incremental Dialysis
Selection Committee Member: Mariana Murea @MarianaMurea
Writer: Mansi Bapat
Green House: Tubular Toxins versus Oxalate Offenders
Selection Committee Member: Linda Awdishu @LAwdishu — @lawdishu.bsky.social
Writers: Ethan Downes, Rachel Khan @RFluriePharmD
Obesity in Kidney Transplant: Obesity in Kidney Transplant Donors versus Obesity in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Selection Committee Members: Swee-Ling Levea @SweeLevea, Babak Orandi
Writers: Alissa Ice, Trevor Stevens
Minimal Change Disease: Minimal Change Disease Pathogenesis and Diagnosis versus Minimal Change Disease Relapse
Selection Committee Member: Susan Samuel @drsusansamuel
Writers: Mallory Downie @mallorydownie, Robert Myette @RobertMyette
CME/CE credit and MOC points are available for players. The brackets are to be submitted by March 31, 2025. During the month, groups are encouraged to organize a #NephMadnessParty to post on social media.
To learn more about NephMadness, check out @KidneyCathy‘s short video explainer:
On social media, follow and participate in the competition at @NephMadness (X) and @nephmadness.bsky.social.
