The Future of Polycystic Kidney Disease Research-As Seen By the 12 Kaplan Awardees

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases. Jared J. Grantham, M.D., has done more than any other individual to promote PKD research around the world. However, despite decades of investigation there is still no approved therapy for PKD in the United States. In May 2014, the University of Kansas Medical Center hosted a symposium in Kansas City honoring the occasion of Dr. Grantham's retirement and invited all the awardees of the Lillian Jean Kaplan International Prize for Advancement in the Understanding of Polycystic Kidney Disease to participate in a forward-thinking and interactive forum focused on future directions and innovations in PKD research. This article summarizes the contributions of the 12 Kaplan awardees and their vision for the future of PKD research.