Welcome to the Advocacy Committee!
Why is neonatal kidney health important? Kidney health begins at birth. From acute kidney injury to congenital kidney disease requiring dialysis, early kidney challenges can affect survival, growth, and lifelong health. Protecting neonatal kidneys protects futures.
The mission of the Neonatal Kidney Collaborative is to improve neonatal kidney health by supporting collaborative research, advocacy, and education opportunities. The advocacy committee works to elevate awareness to acute kidney injury (AKI) and kidney disease, amplify the voices of neonates and families, and advance strategic efforts that ensure neonatal kidney health is prioritized in research, policy, and clinical practice.
We aim to reduce the prevalence of kidney injury, optimize kidney care, and improve long-term kidney related outcomes for neonates and infants. We purse these goals through collaborative outreach, engagement at national and international conferences, strategic partnerships, and clear impactful public messaging that promotes neonatal kidney health on local, national, and international platforms.
Advocacy Committee Structure
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
RECENT ADVOCACY INITIATIVES
Journal Article on Neonatal Kidney Health Outcomes in Research
We developed and disseminated a journal article outlining the need for inclusion of neonatal kidney outcomes in current research, identifying critical gaps and serving as a foundation for national dialogue and strategic prioritization.
Submission to Operation Stork (Infant Formula Access Initiative)
During the national infant formula crisis, NKC submitted formal recommendations to Operation Stork to highlight the unique nutritional and electrolyte considerations for infants with kidney disease. This ensured that neonatal populations with acute and chronic kidney disease were considered in federal response planning.
Current Initiative: Improving Kidney Follow-Up After NICU Discharge
Kidney injury and reduced nephron number in the neonatal period can have lifelong implications. Yet many infants with neonatal kidney injury or risk factors are not systematically followed after NICU discharge. Recent initiatives by experts have put forth recommendations for follow up for kidney care after NICU discharge. We aim to raise awareness and promote structured kidney follow-up for high-risk infants, highlighting these efforts through app development.
Our goal is to ensure that neonatal kidney health does not end at discharge.
