Kathleen Liu

Kathleen Liu is Professor of Medicine and Anesthesia in the Divisions of Nephrology and Critical Care Medicine and the Medical Director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit and the Apheresis/Hemodialysis Unit at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research has focused on acute kidney injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome, with an emphasis on biomarkers and clinical trials. Dr. Liu is the current external steering committee chair for the NIDDK-funded Caring for OutPatiEnts after Acute Kidney Injury (COPE-AKI) study. Dr. Liu chairs the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Health Guidance Oversight Committee and is a member of the ASN AKI!Now Steering Committee.

18th September 2026 Friday

Time Session
16:00
17:50
AKI-CRRT Debate Preliminary Round
(A then B)
Chi-yuan HsuUnited States Moderator Targeting Persistent AKI and Promoting RecoveryDoes Mild to Moderate AKI Actually Cause CKD?
Chung-Yi ChengTaiwan Moderator
Kathleen LiuUnited States Moderator How do I Manage Patients with Combined Kidney and Liver FailureKidney-Ventilator Interactions and Kidney Protective Ventilation /or Lung and Kidney CrosstalkHow Do I Care for the Patient with ARDS and AKIDe-escalating and Transitioning RRT: Best Practices
Tsai-Jung WangTaiwan Moderator
Room 101C

19th September 2026 Saturday

Time Session
07:30
08:15
Meet the Expert 1
How do I Manage Patients with Acute Liver Failure
Chieh-Hsin HuangTaiwan Moderator
  • How do I Manage Patients with Acute Liver Failure
    Kathleen LiuUnited States Speaker How do I Manage Patients with Combined Kidney and Liver FailureKidney-Ventilator Interactions and Kidney Protective Ventilation /or Lung and Kidney CrosstalkHow Do I Care for the Patient with ARDS and AKIDe-escalating and Transitioning RRT: Best Practices
    Mitra NadimUnited States Speaker Hepatorenal Syndrome: Recognition and Management or Disordered Physiology or Iatrogenic FailureManaging Patients With Combined Kidney and Liver FailureHow do I Manage Patients with Acute Liver Failure
    ChingChiao HuangTaiwan Presenter
Room 102
08:30
10:15
Plenary 1: Organ Dysfunction in the Critically Ill Patient: Emerging Concepts
Chih-Wei YangTaiwan Moderator
Jay KoynerUnited States Moderator Special lecture: 2026 KDIGO AKI Guideline UpdateI will be updating the audience on the major conceptual updates of the 2026 KDIGO AKI Guidelines. I will focus on Chapter 1 and 2, including the evolving definition of AKI/AKD, AKI trajectories, biomarkers, and risk prediction, together with selected key updates from Chapter 4 on nephrotoxin-associated kidney injuryTargeting Persistent AKI and Promoting RecoveryI have been working with my co-moderators to develop a case based presentation looking at the use of biomarkers to predict outcomes in a patient with dialysis requiring AKI. and we will be discussing the intracicies of providing AKI-care to those receiving dialysis and how best to wean patients from dialysis and the long term outpatient managment of these patients
  • Welcome & Opening remarks
    Ravindra MehtaUnited States Speaker
    Jin-Shuen ChenTaiwan Speaker
    VinCent WuTaiwan Speaker AKD Care Redefined: Diabetes, Hypertension, and Strategies for Long-Term Health Traditional acute kidney injury (AKI) classifications, centered around semi-anatomical lines, no longer suffice in capturing the complexity of AKI. Subphenotyping, enriched with AKI biomarkers, holds insights into distinct risk profiles and tailored treatment strategies, redefining AKI and contributing to improved clinical management (Critical Care). Incorporating kidney biomarkers into strategies for early AKI detection and the initiation of AKI care bundles has shown greater effectiveness than using care bundles without these novel biomarkers. Our investigations have made notable advancements in identifying water-soluble regulatory iron hepcidin as a promising early biomarker for predicting postoperative acute kidney injury. Beyond hepcidin, our research extended into the exploration of predictive biomarkers, such as HJV, NGAL, and cFGF-23, uncovering their potential in prognosticating the occurrence and severity of AKI (Cell Death Dis, Antioxidants & redox signaling). The amalgamation of these biomarkers with existing clinical AKI scores holds immense promise in revolutionizing critical care and ushering in a new era of personalized patient management. Moreover, our endeavors have transcended theoretical advancements, with successful patent acquisition for AKI biomarkers attesting to our commitment. We were the inaugural contributors to the discourse on the effects of indoxyl sulfate on the tubulogenesis capability of endothelial progenitor cells and cell aging in acute kidney injury(Angiogenesis). A comprehensive review of the long-term prognosis of acute kidney injury, encompassing impacts on the heart, brain, bone lesions, gastrointestinal, and tissue carcinogenesis, was presented. (JASN, KI, cJASN, JAHA, ICM, CC). Our team posited that transferring post-AKI patients to nephrologists for care could reduce overall mortality and cardiovascular events (Value in Health). Through integrated analysis, we demonstrated that standard dialysis would increase the number of patients avoiding dialysis (CC), stimulating fervent discussions among AKI physicians at international conferences. Notably, we were global trailblazers in proposing that acute kidney disease, regardless of AKI presence, leads to mortality and end-stage kidney disease(eClinicalMedicine ). Although the evidence for patients with acute kidney disease (AKD) is still lacking, several potential pharmacological agents may improve outcomes, including but not limited to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (JAMA NO). In conclusion, accurate prognosis prediction and effective treatment for AKD are critical yet unmet clinical needs. Future studies are urgently needed to improve patient care in this complex and rapidly evolving field.
  • Organ Crosstalk in AKI
    Kent DoiJapan Speaker Organ Crosstalk in AKIAcute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently complicated by distant organ dysfunction, significantly increasing patient morbidity and mortality. Recent clinical and experimental evidence highlights complex inter-organ crosstalk mechanisms, such as systemic cytokine release, oxidative stress, immune dysregulation, and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), that mediate extrarenal tissue injury. Experimental studies demonstrate distinct pathophysiological axes connecting the injured kidney with the heart and lungs. Specifically, mitochondrial dysfunction plays a critical role in acute cardiorenal syndrome. Furthermore, in AKI-induced acute lung injury, in addition to activation of the HMGB1–Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), recent studies have reported a novel pathophysiological mechanism of impaired gas exchange mediated by neutrophil retention. This presentation provides an updated overview of the molecular pathways driving AKI-induced distant organ crosstalk, emphasizing key pathophysiology involving the heart and lungs, and discusses targeted therapeutic strategies to improve clinical outcomes in multi-organ failure.Heterogeneity and Future Direction of Major Adverse Kidney EventsThe "AKI/AKD/CKD axis" represents a critical continuum in nephrology, highlighting that acute kidney injury (AKI) is not merely a self-limiting episode but a potent driver of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Numerous clinical studies have reported the epidemiology of the AKI-to-CKD transition, demonstrating how recurrent or severe AKI accelerates renal decline. Crucially, methodological heterogeneity in defining Major Adverse Kidney Events (MAKE), as highlighted by our recent scoping review (Maeda et al., Intensive Care Med 2024), complicates the interpretation of clinical trial outcomes. To ensure the success of future clinical trials targeting AKI and the AKI-to-CKD transition, we must not only identify optimal therapeutic targets, but also establish standardized outcomes that directly align with improved patient care.Targeted Polymyxin B Hemadsorption in Sepsis: Lessons from Japanese Experience and Patient SelectionPolymyxin B haemadsorption (PMX-HA) has a long clinical history in Japan in the treatment of endotoxemia and septic shock. However, recent international randomized controlled trials and clinical guidelines have caused controversy regarding its routine use, citing inconsistent survival benefits in unselected populations. This presentation reviews the evolution of PMX-HA, from its origins in extensive Japanese clinical experience to modern precision medicine approaches in intensive care. Recent secondary analyses and real-world studies have highlighted significant heterogeneity in treatment effects, underscoring the necessity of appropriate patient selection. Subgroup analyses from the EUPHRATES trial demonstrated the potential efficacy of PMX-HA in patients with moderate-to-high endotoxin activity levels (EAA 0.6–0.9) and high severity of organ failure. Furthermore, machine learning applications such as causal forest modelling on large observational and trial cohorts have successfully identified specific biomarker profiles and clinical characteristics that define true responders.
  • Kidney-Ventilator Interactions and Kidney Protective Ventilation /Lung and Kidney Crosstalk
    Kathleen LiuUnited States Speaker How do I Manage Patients with Combined Kidney and Liver FailureKidney-Ventilator Interactions and Kidney Protective Ventilation /or Lung and Kidney CrosstalkHow Do I Care for the Patient with ARDS and AKIDe-escalating and Transitioning RRT: Best Practices
  • Hepatorenal Syndrome: Recognition and Management or Disordered Physiology or Iatrogenic Failure
    Mitra NadimUnited States Speaker Hepatorenal Syndrome: Recognition and Management or Disordered Physiology or Iatrogenic FailureManaging Patients With Combined Kidney and Liver FailureHow do I Manage Patients with Acute Liver Failure
  • Special Lecture: 50 Years of CRRT: A Journey Through Innovation
    Claudio RoncoItaly Speaker Hemoadsorption in the ICUSpecial Lecture: 50 Years of CRRT: A Journey Through InnovationRole of Renal Functional Reserve on AKI Risk and RecoveryHow Do I Use Hemadsorption in My PracticeManaging the Heart Failure Patient With Worsening Renal Function (WRF)
  • Q & A
Room 101
14:00
15:30
Workshop 1 - Session D
How Do I Care for the Patient with ARDS and AKI
  • How Do I Care for the Patient with ARDS and AKI
    Kathleen LiuUnited States Speaker How do I Manage Patients with Combined Kidney and Liver FailureKidney-Ventilator Interactions and Kidney Protective Ventilation /or Lung and Kidney CrosstalkHow Do I Care for the Patient with ARDS and AKIDe-escalating and Transitioning RRT: Best Practices
    Keith Wille Speaker Connectology with Hybrid Systems: ECMO, Apheresis, ECCO2RExtracorporeal life support technologies are increasingly used in critical care settings, with integrating extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), apheresis, and extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO₂R) to provide multi-organ support. This session explores the principles, clinical applications, and challenges of extracorporeal systems and their integration into CRRT, focusing on the interaction between ECMO and renal replacement therapy (CRRT), the role of ECCO2R in respiratory failure, and the combination of apheresis for immunomodulation. Through discussion, participants will gain an understanding of patient selection, circuit configurations, anticoagulation strategies, and the physiological considerations that impact patient outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on optimizing patient management, recognizing complications, and developing a structured approach to hybrid extracorporeal therapy.AKI in Mechanical Circulatory SupportAcute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent and important complication of cardiogenic shock and is strongly associated with adverse outcomes. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial, reflecting reduced cardiac output and renal perfusion, venous congestion, neurohormonal activation, systemic inflammation, vasopressor exposure, and hemodynamic instability. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) may interrupt this cycle by restoring cardiac output, reducing venous congestion, and decreasing vasopressor requirements; however, MCS itself may contribute to kidney injury through hemolysis, embolic events, limb ischemia and rhabdomyolysis, bleeding, contrast exposure, and device-related hemodynamic disturbances. This presentation will review the mechanisms and clinical impact of AKI across commonly used temporary and durable MCS platforms, including intra-aortic balloon pumps, microaxial flow pumps, temporary ventricular assist devices, and durable LVADs. Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying potentially reversible contributors to AKI, understanding the relationship between timing of circulatory support and renal recovery, and managing patients who require concurrent kidney replacement therapy. Practical considerations for CRRT, including vascular access, anticoagulation, ultrafiltration, and interactions between CRRT and MCS, will also be discussed. How do I care for the Patient with ARDS and AKIAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute kidney injury (AKI) frequently coexist in critically ill patients and together are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Their management is closely intertwined: mechanical ventilation, positive end-expiratory pressure, hemodynamic support, and fluid administration may influence renal perfusion and venous congestion, while AKI and fluid accumulation can worsen pulmonary edema, impair gas exchange, and complicate ventilator management. This presentation will provide a practical approach to the patient with concurrent ARDS and AKI, integrating pulmonary and kidney-focused strategies. Key topics will include lung-protective ventilation and its renal consequences, assessment and management of volume status, the role of conservative fluid strategies and de-resuscitation, and the use of diuretics and kidney replacement therapy to achieve fluid-balance goals. Attention will be given to when and how continuous renal replacement therapy can support fluid management in patients with severe respiratory failure, including those with hemodynamic instability. The session will emphasize coordinated decision-making between critical care and nephrology teams to balance lung protection, kidney perfusion, and overall organ support.
    Chien-Liang ChenTaiwan Moderator
    Chien-Yu LinTaiwan Moderator
Room 105

20th September 2026 Sunday

Time Session
08:30
10:15
Plenary 4: Challenges and Controversies in Renal Support and CRRT
Kuang-Yao YangTaiwan Moderator
Nattachai SrisawatThailand Moderator Precision Sepsis-AKI — Biomarkers, AI and Phenotyping in the Asia-PacificSepsis-associated AKI in the Asia-Pacific carries a burden that global datasets underrepresent. In the SEA-AKI prospective multicentre ICU study, AKI was very common, with stage 3 reaching 28.9%, and infectious disease among the independent risk factors for AKI development. In the InSEA-RRT registry — 2,315 critically ill patients with stage 3 AKI across 24 hospitals in Southeast Asia and India — 47% died during hospitalization, with major adverse kidney events tracked to two years. These cohorts expose the limits of treating sepsis-AKI as one disease. This lecture examines how damage and stress biomarkers, machine-learning models trained on regional rather than imported data, and sub-phenotyping by trajectory and host response can move us from a single creatinine-based label toward actionable patient groups. Emphasis will be on what is deployable in resource-variable settings, where biomarker access is uneven and registry infrastructure is often the practical starting point for precision medicine.Timing of DialysisWhen to start kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in AKI remains one of the most frequent bedside decisions in critical care, and the trial evidence has settled less than it first appears. ELAIN favoured early initiation, AKIKI and IDEAL-ICU did not, STARRT-AKI showed no survival benefit from an accelerated strategy with more dialysis dependence at 90 days, and AKIKI-2 found that delaying further offered no advantage and may cause harm. This session works through illustrative cases rather than trial summaries: the patient with rising creatinine but no urgent indication, refractory hyperkalaemia or acidosis demanding immediate treatment, the fluid-overloaded patient with worsening oxygenation, and the diuretic-responsive patient in whom watchful waiting proves correct. Each case is used to separate absolute indications from the discretionary zone where trials apply. Emphasis will be on practical decision aids — urine output trajectory, furosemide stress testing, fluid balance, and organ-support burden — and on when not starting is the better decision.Acute PD vs Acute HD: Which Is the Right Choice?For AKI requiring kidney replacement therapy outside well-resourced ICUs, the practical question is which modality can be started safely tonight. Acute peritoneal dialysis (PD) needs no vascular access, anticoagulation, water treatment, or machine, but concerns persist about clearance and ultrafiltration control. Our multicentre randomized trial assigned 157 patients with AKI to lower-dosage acute PD (18–24 L/day) or intermittent hemodialysis three times weekly. Sepsis caused 68% of AKI. Twenty-eight-day mortality was 50% versus 49% (risk difference 0.6%), meeting the prespecified noninferiority margin, with comparable dialysis-free survival and seven-day fluid balance. Complications diverged rather than favoured one modality: intradialytic hypotension was more frequent with hemodialysis, hypokalemia with PD. This lecture translates these findings into practice — where lower-dosage PD is a legitimate first choice, where it is not, how to prescribe and monitor it, and how modality availability shapes AKI preparedness in resource-limited settings.
  • Chat GPT Applications in Critical Care Nephrology
    Kianoush KashaniUnited States Speaker Practical Steps to Train (and Become) an AI-Era PhysicianAI in Critical Care Nephrology — State of the Art and the Path from Algorithm to BedsideCritical Care Nephrology: Literature ReviewChat GPT Applications in Critical Care Nephrology
  • Fluid Balance Reimagined: Hemodynamic Monitoring and Ultrafiltration Precision
    Ravindra MehtaUnited States Speaker
  • Precision Volume Management in CRRT: Insights from Bioimpedance and Biomarkers
    Sejoong KimSouth Korea Speaker Korean Big-Data Experience in AKI and CRRT OutcomesSouth Korea has established a robust nationwide health data infrastructure, enabling large-scale analyses of acute kidney injury (AKI) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Leveraging the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) and National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) databases, Korean researchers have characterized AKI incidence, risk factors, and short- and long-term outcomes across diverse clinical settings. Studies utilizing CRRT data have identified predictors of mortality, renal recovery, and progression to chronic kidney disease. These big-data approaches provide critical real-world evidence, informing clinical practice and guiding future interventional strategies in critically ill patients with AKI.Precision Volume Management in CRRT: Insights from Bioimpedance and BiomarkersOptimal fluid balance is critical in critically ill patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), yet accurate volume assessment remains challenging. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) offers a non-invasive, objective method to quantify fluid overload and guide individualized ultrafiltration targets. Complementing BIA, emerging biomarkers provide dynamic, real-time insights into volume status and end-organ perfusion. Integrating these tools into a precision medicine framework may optimize fluid removal strategies, reduce complications, and improve survival outcomes in CRRT-dependent patients. Prospective validation of this combined approach is warranted.
  • Dynamic Prescription of CRRT: Ready for Prime Time?
    John ProwleUnited Kingdom Speaker Trajectories of Critical Illness – Defining Endotypes from Routine DataCritical illness is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by diverse clinical trajectories and variable responses to treatment. Defining biologically and clinically meaningful endotypes using routinely collected healthcare data offers an opportunity to improve risk stratification, prognostication, and personalized therapeutic strategies, enabling earlier intervention, enhanced clinical decision-making, and precision medicine in critical care. In particular the transition from acute to persistent critical illness represents a pivotal phase in intensive care, marked by a shift from the initial disease insult to prolonged organ dysfunction driven by complex host responses. Early identification of patients at risk of this transition remains a major clinical challenge and opportunity.Dynamic Prescription of CRRT Ready for Prime TimeContinuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has evolved from a standardized supportive therapy to a platform for precision critical care. Increasing evidence suggests that fixed prescriptions fail to accommodate the dynamic physiological changes encountered during critical illness, resulting in suboptimal solute clearance, fluid management, and metabolic control. Dynamic prescription integrates evolving haemodynamic status, fluid balance, acid–base homeostasis, electrolyte disturbances, and recovery trajectories to optimize therapy delivery while minimizing complications and treatment interruptions. This paradigm supports individualized kidney support rather than protocol-driven care. Emerging decision-support systems and data-driven algorithms have the potential to transform CRRT into a responsive, patient-centred intervention, improving kidney recovery, organ support, and outcomes in critically ill patients. Adapting CRRT for patients with Electrolyte and acid-base disordersContinuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is uniquely positioned to provide precise correction of complex electrolyte and acid–base disturbances in critically ill patients. Beyond kidney support, modern CRRT prescriptions can be individualized to account for the severity and evolution of dysnatremia, dyskalemia, calcium disorders, and metabolic acidosis or alkalosis. Customization of dialysate and replacement fluid composition, treatment dose, buffer delivery, and regional citrate anticoagulation enables controlled correction while minimizing the risks of metabolic complications. Dynamic prescription based on serial biochemical monitoring and changing clinical physiology can be embedded into treatment protocols, facilitating safe correction of sodium, potassium, calcium, and bicarbonate abnormalities while optimizing organ support and improving outcomes in critically ill patients. Extracorporeal Therapies in Trauma, Burns and Cerebral OedemaExtracorporeal therapies (ECTs) are an important adjunct in the management of critically ill patients with severe trauma, major burns, and brain injuries. Acute kidney injury, systemic inflammation, rhabdomyolysis, and profound fluid and electrolyte disturbances frequently complicate these conditions, necessitating timely organ support. Continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) provides effective management of metabolic derangements while enabling precise fluid balance in hemodynamically unstable patients. In trauma and burns, ECTs may facilitate the clearance of myoglobin in severe rhabdomyolysis, support fluid management during resuscitation, and could enable removal of damage or pathogen associated molecular patterns mediating multiorgan failure. In patients with cerebral edema, CKRT offers gradual osmotic control and minimizes intracranial pressure fluctuations compared with intermittent dialysis, making it the preferred modality when kidney replacement therapy is required. We will review current evidence, practical considerations, and emerging extracorporeal strategies, highlighting their role in improving physiological stability and supporting recovery in critically ill patients.
  • Bicarbonate in AKI: Use and Misuse
    Lui ForniUnited Kingdom Speaker Sepsis Associated AKIBicarbonate in AKI: Use and MisuseAdapting CRRT for Patients with Electrolyte and ACID-Base Disorders
  • De-escalating and Transitioning RRT: Best Practices
    Kathleen LiuUnited States Speaker How do I Manage Patients with Combined Kidney and Liver FailureKidney-Ventilator Interactions and Kidney Protective Ventilation /or Lung and Kidney CrosstalkHow Do I Care for the Patient with ARDS and AKIDe-escalating and Transitioning RRT: Best Practices
  • Q & A
Room 101AB