Support

The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) is committed to working with stakeholders in the health and research sectors to achieve common objectives and exchange knowledge. Frequent exchanges among academia, clinical practitioners, and healthcare industry (in particular company scientists) can result in some of the best and most innovative research ideas and development, as well as provide an array of value-added educational offerings and services to members that advance the goals of the ISN.

ISN values collaboration with companies that develop, manufacture, and market medicines and other treatments. Through a collaborative environment, ISN and healthcare industry partners may achieve the common objective of advancing the discovery, innovation, development, and delivery of new therapies to improve the healthcare of patients and treatment of kidney disease globally.

In doing so, ISN will maintain professional independence, objectivity, and scientific integrity. Cooperation is limited to those areas where parties have a clear common interest and share mutual objectives and clearly defined scope of work.

There are many typical business relationships into which associations such as ISN may enter with corporations and other parties. There may be overlap among approaches and hybrid arrangements could exist. All such relationships will be fully aligned with the mission and vision of the ISN, and its strategic priorities. Some of the most common relationships include:

Sponsorship: ISN may accept financial or in-kind support for a specific activity such as education, research, an information product, a member service or an awareness building activity.

Strategic alliance: A mutually beneficial relationship may be established between ISN and another party. Strategic alliances are most often longer term, collaborative efforts designed to advance a shared mission or vision.

Health promotion: ISN may work with another organization to promote improvements in health or healthcare.

ISN continues to seek sponsorship from pharmaceutical and other commercial companies subject to the following guiding principles. ISN will withdraw from any agreement if those conditions are not met by pharmaceutical and other commercial companies at any stage in the relationship.

Mission-related purpose: ISN’s relationships with corporations and other entities must have a meaningful mission-related purpose or benefit.

Disclosure: ISN will disclose all sponsored activities that are partially or completely financed by external funds. If there is a potential conflict of interest, the decision on accepting the sponsorship will be referred to the President and Executive Director with soundings taken from the Executive Committee.

Endorsement: ISN does not endorse any single commercial product or service but promotes informed choice about medicines and other treatments. ISN may promote products or services which are sold for fundraising purposes, e.g. cause-related marketing or affinity products. In these cases, particular attention will be paid to ensure these promotions are in the interests of the ISN and people affected by kidney disease.

Independence: ISN will not accept any sponsorship where it affects our independent governance, editorial control, or independent decision-making.

Consistency: Sponsorships will only be accepted if in accordance with this policy and must not conflict with or hinder the ISN’s strategic goals, program plans and policies.

Intellectual property: Where possible and appropriate, ISN reserves the right to the intellectual property deriving from projects that it sponsors and/or manages.

Branding: ISN will not allow the use of its name, logo or other identifying marks to promote any commercial product or service. Any usage of the ISN name, logo or related identifying marks in a corporate relationship shall be reviewed and approved by ISN, in writing, in advance of their use.

Exclusivity: ISN may grant exclusivity to a company for a particular activity for a specified time on the basis that there is sufficient benefit to ISN. ISN retains its right to decide to seek support from more than one pharmaceutical company, either for core costs or for a specific project or specific item.

Informed: ISN will only consider involvement in sponsored activities that have proven medical or scientific evidence to support.

Scope: ISN may operate both on a global and regional/country-level scale with industry partners depending on the specific educational, research and/or advocacy needs identified.

ISN will comply with tax law governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of USA. ISN will comply with requirements under the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679

While the ISN recognizes the need for a comprehensive and transparent policy for sponsorship, it is aware that some objectives can only be reached over a period of time. These are:

• The creation of a central repository for drug industry funding, which would allow the Society the freedom to use the money as it sees fit.
• The limitation of total industry support so that it accounts for no more than 25 percent of ISN operating budget.
• The obligation for all ISN leaders (Executive Committee members) to be conflict-free ($0 threshold) during their tenure.

Q Does the acceptance of sponsorship from a pharmaceutical or other commercial company imply the endorsement of the company’s products by ISN?

A No. Many pharmaceutical and other companies support activities associated with kidney disease rather than narrowly promote their products or services. ISN welcomes this as a valuable source of funding for its work.

Q How important is it for ISN to have a good working relationship with pharmaceutical and other commercial companies?

A By ensuring a good professional working relationship with pharmaceutical and other companies producing products and services for people with kidney disease, ISN is able to influence products and services to the benefit of people with kidney disease. It also ensures that the ISN is kept up-to-date with all the latest innovations in kidney disease control and treatment and future developments, enabling the ISN to accurately and reliably inform and support everyone when they are trying to understand their treatment options and make informed decisions.