UK Diagnostic Interventional Nephrology (UK-DIN) Specialist Interest Group: Progress and Achievements Since 2022

Author: Dr Saeed Ahmed (Sid)

The UK Diagnostic Interventional Nephrology Specialist Interest Group (UK-DIN SIG) was established in 2022 as a specialist group within the UK Kidney Association (UKKA). Since its inception, the group has grown rapidly in profile and activity, fostering collaboration among interventional nephrology teams across the UK.

As Co-Chair, I have championed a collaborative approach to unite these teams, including the wider multi-professional workforce. We hold regular meetings and maintain a vibrant WhatsApp group with 181 members, enabling ongoing discussions, reflections, and sharing of best practices.

The UK-DIN SIG has consistently contributed to UKKA conferences, delivering workshops at UK Kidney Week events held in Newport, Birmingham and Bournemouth. Additionally, the group has organised independent training courses for both the Specialty Renal Trainees and the wider multi-professional team. These sessions have taken place in Birmingham, with the next course scheduled in Reading.

Connecting the Interventional Nephrology community, including nursing and allied health professionals, has proven highly rewarding. This collaboration has resulted in multiple projects and publications and supported career progression - helping SpRs advance to consultant roles and nursing colleagues achieve higher banding. Mentorship, advice and support remain core values of the UK-DIN SIG, with training and education at the heart of its mission.

The group has developed two key workstreams led by members: Best Practice Guidelines and Standardisation. Current guideline development includes tunnelled dialysis catheter removal and renal biopsy procedures. The Standardisation workstream is actively investigating benchmarks for fistuloplasty wait times.

Reflecting the strength of this collaborative community, the UK-DIN SIG’s reach has become global. We have strong links with the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) Education Ambassador Programme, and two UK Interventional Nephrology Units are recognised as ISN Training Centres, regularly hosting ISN fellows.

UK-DIN SIG maintains a close relationship with the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Interventional Nephrology at the University of Newcastle. This two-year part-time programme, endorsed by the UKKA and the Association of Nephrology Nurses UK (ANN UK), is now in its third year and remains oversubscribed. PGCert students undertake longitudinal projects often aligned with UK-DIN SIG workstreams, gaining leadership experience and becoming potential future SIG leaders.

Leadership within the UK-DIN SIG has evolved into a multi-professional model, with several leads across workstreams. This inclusive structure offers exciting opportunities for trainees and multi-professional team members to contribute and develop leadership skills.

I have had the privilege, as Co-Chair, to represent the UK-DIN SIG at numerous international meetings, highlighting our multi-professional team's work and education initiatives. These engagements include the Pakistan Society of Nephrology (PSN), American Society of Diagnostic Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN), Association of Vascular Access and Interventional Renal Physicians of India (AVATAR), African Association of Nephrology (AFRAN), Kenya Renal Association and the Hong Kong Renal Association. These forums have fostered international collaborations, and we look forward to welcoming international fellows into our training programs.

The groundwork laid by the UK-DIN SIG has significantly strengthened the future of interventional nephrology in the UK. With a growing community, expanding educational programs, and strong international ties, the future of interventional nephrology is brighter than ever.