Tokyo Women's Medical University

School of Medicine

Department of Pediatric Nephrology

Overview

The Department of Pediatric Nephrology traces its origins to January 1978, when Professor Katsumi Ito, now Emeritus Professor, began providing pediatric nephrology care at the Artificial Kidney Center of Tokyo Women’s Medical University—the predecessor of the Comprehensive Kidney Disease Center. In April 1979, the Comprehensive Kidney Disease Center was established as the third organ-specific center at Tokyo Women’s Medical University Hospital, and at the same time, the Department of Pediatric Nephrology was launched as an independent clinical department.
In May 1983, Dr. Katsumi Ito became the first professor of the department. He made significant contributions to the field of pediatric nephrology until his retirement in March 2004.
In April of the same year, Dr. Motoshi Hattori was appointed Director of the Department of Pediatric Nephrology and later became the second professor in November 2005. He achieved numerous accomplishments in the field, particularly in the management of refractory nephrotic syndrome and pediatric renal failure. From June 2018, Dr. Hattori served as President of the Japanese Society for Pediatric Nephrology for two years. He also held key positions such as board member and councilor in various academic societies, including the Japanese Society of Nephrology, the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy, the Japanese Society for Clinical Renal Transplantation, and the Japanese Society for Apheresis—many of which are centered on adult care. He contributed greatly to raising awareness of the necessity and importance of pediatric nephrology, and played a central role in developing clinical guidelines and research tools for studies funded by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. He retired in March 2024.
In May of the same year, Dr. Kenichiro Miura assumed the position of the third professor and continues to lead the department to this day.

Education Details

1) Student Education
As a component department of the Comprehensive Kidney Disease Center and the Pediatric Comprehensive Medical Center, our department is involved in the education of medical students, nursing students, and graduate students. In the elective training in the latter half of clinical practice, we aim to have students practice as student doctors under the clinical practice based on medical problem-solving.
2) Post-graduate education
We oversee pediatric training for initial clinical interns. In the latter stage of clinical training, under the pediatric specialist training program, we practice and conduct research and education in primary care, community medicine, emergency medicine, and advanced medicine in specialized fields as a pediatric comprehensive medical center. In addition, we accept a wide range of young physicians who aim to become Pediatric Nephrology specialists as trainees and provide specialist education based on a wide variety of case studies.

Research Details

1. Clinical and Translational Research on Kidney Failure in Children (Kidney Transplantation and Dialysis Therapy)
Our research includes ABO-incompatible living-donor kidney transplantation, kidney transplantation in special populations requiring particular considerations (such as those with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, and lower urinary tract abnormalities), deceased-donor kidney transplantation, and encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis in patients on peritoneal dialysis.
2. Pathophysiological Investigation and Therapeutic Development for Nephrotic Syndrome and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
We are investigating anti-nephrin autoantibodies as a potential pathogenic factor and conducting genetic analyses of FSGS using next-generation sequencing. Our goal is to establish novel treatment strategies, including prevention and management of post-transplant recurrence.
3. Research on the Treatment of Glomerulonephritis, Including IgA Nephropathy
Based on detailed renal biopsy findings, we provide patient-specific treatment while conducting research to advance therapeutic approaches.
4. Research on Apheresis Therapy for Pediatric Kidney Diseases
We apply apheresis treatments such as plasma exchange and LDL apheresis as needed in patients with severe glomerulonephritis, refractory nephrotic syndrome (including FSGS), and ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation.
5. Research on Rare and Intractable Pediatric Kidney Disorders (Including Epstein Syndrome and Renal Tubular Disorders Such as Lowe Syndrome)
As part of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Policy Research Program for Rare and Intractable Diseases, we are working to establish a nationwide clinical and research framework for rare pediatric kidney diseases.
https://pckd.jpn.org/en/index.html
Our projects include genetic analysis and immunostaining-based diagnosis, renal pathology, and treatment of Epstein syndrome, as well as research into the diagnosis, epidemiology, and long-term prognosis of Lowe syndrome.

Faculty

Professor Kenichiro MIURA
Lecturer Kiyonobu ISHIDZUKA
Lecturer Youko SHIRAI

Related links

Research Achievements Database

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