“Future Proof Dialysis” – a webinar on shaping future policy on dialysis across Europe

The European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA) and the Dutch Kidney Foundation (DKF) warmly invite you to join 16 September 2026 a webinar focused on shaping the future of dialysis policy across Europe.

Bringing together leading experts from across the kidney community, this webinar will explore current innovations in dialysis, with a particular focus on home based therapies, and discuss the policy changes needed to ensure that people living with kidney disease can access the treatments that best support their quality of life.

Designed primarily for stakeholders already familiar with kidney disease and healthcare systems, the webinar will move beyond clinical fundamentals to examine what policy action and changes are needed  at European and national levels.

Advances in dialysis technology and care delivery are creating new opportunities for patients, particularly through home based treatment options that can offer greater flexibility, independence, and quality of life. However, policy frameworks often struggle to keep pace with innovation, creating barriers to adoption and limiting patient access to the treatments that best meet their needs.

Participants will hear from patients, clinicians, innovators, and policy advocates who will share perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing dialysis care today. We will explore current developments in home haemodialysis, emerging technologies, and national strategies that are helping to transform dialysis care.

We will then examine how the kidney community can work together to drive meaningful policy change, leverage current momentum, align around shared priorities, and develop a coordinated advocacy strategy to future proof dialysis care across Europe.

Our aim: help ensure that all patients have access to the treatments that best support their lives.

Register to join the webinar

🗓 September 16, 2026
⏰ 16:00 – 17:30 CET

We look forward to welcoming members of the kidney community to this important discussion.

Moderator

Prof. Michel Jadoul

Prof. Michel Jadoul is an internationally renowned nephrologist, EKHA Co-President, and Professor of Medicine at the Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. A leading authority in chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and vascular access, he has dedicated his career to improving the quality and safety of kidney care through clinical research, education, and guideline development. Professor Jadoul has served in numerous leadership roles within the European nephrology community, including as President of the European Renal Association (ERA), where he has championed innovation, patient-centered care, and international collaboration. As the author of hundreds of scientific publications and a frequent invited speaker at global conferences, he is widely recognized for his expertise in dialysis outcomes, infection prevention, and advancing best practices in nephrology.
Prof. Michel Jadoul will highlight facts and figures for the dialysis in the EU.

Speakers

The patient perspective on current innovation in dialysis

Tugrul Irmak

Tugrul Irmak studied mechanical engineering at University of Bristol (2013-2017) after which he did his PhD at the Intelligent Vehicles group in TU Delft (2017-2022) on the topic of motion sickness and sensory integration in the brain.
During his post doc at TU Delft his kidneys failed (September 2022). He was bound to the dialysis machine for 10 months. He started work lab work in the group of Dr. Karin Gerritsen at UMC Utrecht 3 weeks after his transplant (June 2023). The prime ambition is to create an implantable bio-artificial kidney that will lead to a future free from dialysis.

Innovation in dialysis

Home hemodialysis

Prof. Raymond Vanholder

Raymond Vanholder is an internationally recognized nephrologist and emeritus professor whose career has focused on advancing the understanding and treatment of kidney disease. Based in Belgium, he has made significant contributions to nephrology research, clinical practice, and international guideline development, authoring hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and serving in leadership roles within major nephrology organizations, including the European Renal Association and being the EKHA Past-President. Professor Vanholder is widely respected for his work on improving dialysis care, patient outcomes, and global kidney health policy.

Nextkidney

Dieter Bach

Prof. Dr. med. Dieter Bach (oec. med.) is an internationally recognized nephrologist with more than three decades of experience in kidney medicine, dialysis, and transplantation. He is currently the CMO of Nextkidney, and served as Director of Medical Clinic III and Head Physician of the KfH Kidney Centre at HELIOS Hospital Krefeld (1999–2013) and has held leadership roles as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation and Chairman of the KfH Foundation for Preventive Medicine (2013–2026). An Extraordinary Professor of Internal Medicine at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Prof. Bach specializes in nephrology, dialysis, hypertension, diabetology, and internal medicine. His distinguished career combines clinical practice, academic research, and healthcare leadership, earning him multiple national and international awards for his contributions to nephrology.

Future proof dialysis care in The Netherlands

Tom Oostrom

Tom Oostrom has been Managing Director of the Dutch Kidney Foundation since 2010. With the motto “Life comes first” the Kidney Foundation gives everything to make sure kidney patients survive ánd their quality of life improves. Tom Oostrom learned from practice: he started out as a nurse. His drive is to make a real difference for kidney patients, to help make their lives livable. This is necessary, because a renal disease is severe and makes a deep impact in someones life.
Oostrom is member of the Supervisory Board of Nextkidney (company developing the portable artificial kidney), Patient advocate member of the board of directors of RegMedXB, vice-chair of the advisory board of the Topsector Life Sciences & Health, member of the board of Directors of the European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA), and involved in different supervisory or advisory roles in Dutch charity field and the Dutch healthcare sector.

Discussion about an EU policy vision, advocacy challenges and policy asks to future proof dialysis