Report on 2012 ISN Nexus symposium: 'Bone and the kidney'

The Copenhagen 2012 Nexus symposium on 'Bone and the Kidney' followed the 'bench to bedside' approach of the Nexus symposia organized by the International Society of Nephrology. The main goal of the present symposium was to provide a unique forum for scientists and clinicians with an interest in the fascinating world of the many hormones and factors involved in mineral homeostasis, bone disease, and vascular calcification of patients with chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). The possibility of exchanging cutting-edge insights and discussing clinically relevant information on all aspects of the bone-kidney axis was open to all participants. The numerous lectures given at the symposium addressed current knowledge and recent advances in kidney and bone physiology, as well as the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy of CKD-MBD, inspired by the intention to enhance the translation of basic science into clinical medicine. The lectures were followed by lively discussions of open questions and controversial issues. Our brief summary of interesting novel findings presented at this symposium is necessarily the result of a somewhat arbitrary choice among a wealth of exciting data brought to the attention of an enthusiastic audience.