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Swarnalata Gowrishankar (fourth from left) alongside staff from the Kigali University Teaching Hospital in Rwanda

In March 2025, ISN Educational Ambassador (EA) Swarnalata Gowrishankar, a renal pathologist at the Apollo Hospitals in India, spent two weeks helping to set up a kidney pathology laboratory in the pathology department of the Kigali University Teaching Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda.

ISN Educational Ambassador Swarnalata Gowrishankar supervises tissue sample analysis at the Kigali University Teaching Hospital in Rwanda

Strengthening renal pathology in Rwanda with multifaceted ISN support

Gervais Ntakuritimana, a renal pathologist at Kigali University Teaching Hospital, completed a one-year ISN Fellowship in renal and transplant pathology alongside Dr. Gowrishankar in India, starting in July 2023. This ISN EA visit aimed to provide continued mentorship and guidance in setting up the laboratory in Kigali, ultimately improving kidney pathology services to ensure accurate diagnosis and improved patient care.

The ISN has played a key role in supporting Dr. Ntakuritimana’s career and the development of renal pathology in Rwanda. In addition to the EA visit and ISN Fellowship, he was awarded an ISN Renal Pathology Bursary in 2024 to attend the European Renal Pathology Course.

Hands-on training and capacity building

Dr. Gowrishankar presented case-based training to nephrologists, trainees, technicians, and Dr. Ntakuritimana. The sessions focused on practical work, with 10% of the program dedicated to theoretical learning. Dr. Gowrishankar developed comprehensive standard operating procedures for renal biopsy handling. In addition, a special lecture was given during a World Kidney Day CME event, highlighting the role of renal biopsies in delaying CKD progression.

Dr. Gowrishankar also liaised with the King Faisal Hospital in Kigali, which already has an established renal pathology facility. Biopsy samples can be transported to Kigali within 3-4 hours, allowing preliminary reports within 24 hours — greatly enhancing diagnostic efficiency.

Enhancing diagnostic capabilities

Thanks to the EA visit, the cryostat and immunofluorescence microscope were validated for use, enabling faster tissue sample processing and more precise identification of kidney diseases. Essential chemicals and frozen antibodies were transported from India for the initial setup. Other key staining techniques — periodic acid-schiff, silver, and Masson’s trichrome — were also verified for use, improving the hospital’s capacity to perform comprehensive renal pathology analyses.

Building a sustainable future for renal pathology in the region

The visit laid the foundations for the long-term goals of establishing a renal pathology training program at the University of Rwanda to help expand renal biopsy capabilities in regional hospitals and reduce reliance on foreign diagnostics.

Additional priorities include establishing a national renal disease registry to track patient outcomes and guide healthcare policies, as well as developing a national kidney disease prevention and management program. These efforts seek to strengthen Rwanda’s capacity to diagnose and manage kidney diseases, improving patient outcomes and reducing costs. Continued mentorship and regular follow-ups (virtual and in-person) are planned.

Gervais Ntakuritimana (third from left) with Swarnalata Gowrishankar (center) and staff from the Kigali University Teaching Hospital in Rwanda

This combination of ISN support — training through the ISN Fellowship, hands-on guidance via the Educational Ambassador Program, and specialized learning through an ISN Renal Pathology Bursary — demonstrates how ISN grants work together to build local expertise and strengthen kidney care worldwide.

Find the right grant to help fulfill your goal—whether as an individual or an organization: Explore ISN grants.