Conference Information Dear participants and friends, The Nephrology Division of McGill University is honored to be hosting the 12th International Podocyte Conference (IPC) in Montreal in 2018. It is our great pleasure to invite all of you to Montreal for the 12th IPC. For nearly a quarter of a century, this biannual symposium has assembled leading clinicians and scientists from around the world to focus on the biology of the most remarkable kidney cell, the podocyte, and its relationship to human disease. OBJECTIVE. The IPC is the largest and world’s most influential scientific forum focused on recent advances in podocyte biology. Dysfunction of the podocyte is central to the pathophysiology of many glomerular diseases, ranging from glomerulonephritis to diabetic nephropathy to genetic forms of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Collectively, these conditions affect millions of people worldwide and account for most renal failure requiring dialysis and transplantation. The main theme of the 12th IPC will be: “From podocyte biology to novel cures for glomerular disease.” The meeting will be attended by editors of the highest-ranking scientific journals, members of disease-specific patient foundations and representatives of the pharmaceutical world. PROGRAM. The Podocyte Conference in Montreal will provide a convenient venue for nephrologist, basic scientist, clinician-scientists and their trainees to come together to discuss and share the newest results in the field of podocyte biology and the latest advances in the therapeutic approaches to treat glomerular disease. Guided by the suggestions from the Canadian Scientific Committee, International IPC Committee and Nephcure Kidney International, the organizing committee has put together a comprehensive scientific program that includes topics on podocyte structure and podocyte metabolism, model systems to study podocytes and glomerular disease, topics on genetic and immune origins of glomerulopathies, as well as a discussion of the advances in development of novel agents to reverse podocyte and glomerular injury (see Program). The program highlights contributions from young investigators and their trainees: there will be a “poster blitz” session where investigators can summarize their research in a one minute/one slide presentation. The program will include two poster sessions and 1-16 short 7 minute presentations to be selected from submitted abstracts. ABSTRACTS. We invite you to submit abstracts, which may be uploaded on this website, according to instructions on the “abstract submission” tab. A Canadian scientific committee will select abstracts for oral/poster presentations and publication in the 12th IPC proceedings. VENUE. Our conference will be held on May 30 – June 2, 2018, Montreal’s delightful springtime. Montreal is a cosmopolitan multilingual major North American city with welcoming policies for participants from all corners of the world. Our city has a well-developed infrastructure, including an international airport within the city borders. Our venue, the Marriott Chateau Champlain (4-star hotel with elegant facilities), is located in the heart of downtown Montreal, within walking distance of excellent restaurants, cafés and patisseries, Old Montreal, theatres, museums, boutiques and municipal transportation. Montreal has a rich history and is known for its safety, cleanliness, affordability and convenience. We are looking forward to welcoming you all to the 12th International Podocyte Conference in Montreal, Canada. We are confident that our symposium will be scientifically inspiring, stimulate new thought on translation of podocyte biology to the therapy of glomerular disease and allow participants to build long-lasting collaborations with the best scientists in the world. Yours truly, The 12th IPC organizing committee