Our field of teams has been halved once again! Has the Blue Ribbon Panel busted your bracket (and heart) yet? Check out the Current Standings and share your reactions with #NephMadness!

We proudly present:

Current Standings | Match Results | @NephMadness | @nephmadness.bsky.social

Thanks again to Krithika Mohan @krithicism for the scoreboard graphics!

IgA Nephropathy Region vs Artificial Intelligence Region

Team Natural Language Processing couldn’t keep up with Team B-cell Modulators’ strong offense. Team B-cell Modulators with the easy win.

B-cell Modulators wins 6-3

Comments from the BRP:

“Hard to not go with the science that has led to the potential to eliminate our most common glomerulonephritis! Anti BAFF and APRIL for the win!”

“Natural Language Processing is selected because Kidney care is patient-centered and is documented in narrative rather than images; as such, this is a better model to simplify information relative to kidney disease and treatment, while at the same time freeing up clinicians’ nursing and ancillary staff’s time in efficiency in coordinating patient care.”

“Maybe I’m just riding the IgA Nephropathy hype train, but B cell targets are hopefully gonna change everything. AI is moving so quickly, it may outpace a specific treatment – this may be a wrong call on my part but I have to go with changes that I can see/predict, and B cell therapies are game changers and win this matchup.”

“The intro of B-cell targets in IgA nephropathy is already reshaping care for a large patient population. AI in nephrology, though promising, is still building toward clinical impact.”

“Difficult choice, both with emerging data and clinical utility. Although AI has transformative capacity across CKD, new B cell targets narrowly win, due to novel insights in B cell pathways (not only applicable to IgA) but other glomerular disease.”

Animal House Region vs Trolls of Transplantation Region

Sadly, Team Dogs proved to be no match for Team BK. Team BKV with the easy victory, busting Team Dog lovers brackets everywhere.

BK Wins 7-2

Comments from the BRP:

“Is it time for the Animal House to go all the way? Perhaps the loyal and friendly canine can be the animal that becomes a NephMadness champion!”

“I find this research interesting. The fact that immunosuppressants can cause kidney rejection due to BKV, which gives them their chance to surface, is worth further research and study.”

“Personally am surprised that BK edged out CMV. I don’t think either of these teams is a worthy champion, but I’ll take dogs for one more round.”

C3G Region vs Cerebronephrology Region

Team Cerebronephrology in ESKD‘s brains proved no match for Team C3G Treatment’s brawn. 

C3G Treatment wins 6-3

Comments from the BRP:

“This is quite the matchup. Incredible science leading to a conquest for a very rare disease, or recognizing cerebral issues in the most common patient a nephrologist sees? Have to go with the more common pathology here- i’m voting cerebroneph in ESKD for the win.”

“As a previous dialysis patient, I was unaware of the dynamics of dialysis and the effects on the brain with the probability of developing paradoxical acidosis, and the risk of developing cerebrovascular disease.”

“This should be an easy win for C3G treatments – if a #blueribbonfail comes from Cerebronephrology winning this matchup, I want it on the record, that this was not my vote.”

POCUS Region vs Genetics Region

Team POCUS in AKI and Team PKD Masqueraders were tied for most of the matchup. A last second half court shot sealed the victory for Team POCUS In AKI.

POCUS in AKI wins 5-4

Comments from the BRP:

“While genetics in PKD has been pivotal for few, POCUS in AKI is critical for decision making on a daily basis, and wins because of its generalizability and overall utility.”

Current Standings | Match Results

#NephMadness | #NephMadness 

Reminder:

US-based physicians can earn 1.0 CME credit and 1.0 MOC per region through NKF PERC (detailed instructions here). The CME and MOC activity will expire on June 1, 2026.