The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University · Department of Nephrology

If you or a loved one is facing kidney disease — IgA nephropathy, lupus nephritis, diabetic or hypertensive kidney damage, chronic kidney disease (CKD), or end-stage renal failure requiring dialysis — the Department of Nephrology at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (FAH-SYSU) is widely considered the strongest nephrology department in Guangdong and one of the leading kidney centres in China.

Home to one of the world's two largest peritoneal dialysis (PD) centres, hosting the Chinese Journal of Nephrology, and performing more than 1,000 renal biopsies every year, this department offers the full spectrum of kidney care — from early CKD screening to dialysis planning and advanced treatment of rare kidney diseases.

At Medora, we help international patients navigate this world-class department. Here is what you need to know.

The Hospital

The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (founded 1910) is one of the largest top-tier (Grade 3A) teaching hospitals in South China. In the 2023 Fudan University ranking, it achieved the highest "A++++" tier — one of only 20 hospitals nationwide and only two in Guangdong. It was called "the mainland medical institution most trusted by Hong Kong people" as early as 2004.

The main campus is at 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, about one hour by high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon.

Department Overview

One of the earliest kidney-disease specialties established in China, the department comprises Wards 1–3, a Haemodialysis Centre, a Peritoneal Dialysis Centre, and a dedicated Kidney Disease Laboratory. It was designated an Innovation Team by the Ministry of Education.

Academic Standing & Rankings

• National Key Discipline (Ministry of Education) and Guangdong Provincial Key Discipline
• National Key Clinical Specialty — ranked No. 1 in the national evaluation of key clinical specialties in nephrology
• Host institution of the Chinese Journal of Nephrology（《中华肾脏病杂志》)
• Home of the NHC Key Laboratory of Nephrology Clinical Research, a Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease, and a Guangdong Provincial Department of Education Key Laboratory (600 m², equipment worth > RMB 12 million)
• Guangdong Provincial Key Medical Specialty
• Ranking highlights: No. 2 nationally in Peking University's 2019 National Best Discipline Evaluation; No. 3 nationally in 2019 STEM for nephrology; top-8 nationally in the Fudan comprehensive specialty ranking; No. 1 in South China regional ranking
• Talent: members of the State Council Academic Degrees Committee, a National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars awardee, Pearl River Scholars distinguished professors; trained 58 PhDs and 49 master's in the past 5 years and 2,000+ nephrologists nationwide
• Research: 54 grants in 5 years (incl. 1 Distinguished Young Scholar grant, 4 major Ministry of Science and Technology/Ministry of Health projects), 340 papers, and 8 provincial/ministerial awards incl. a Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award

Core Expertise

1. Peritoneal Dialysis — World-Leading

• 670+ patients on maintenance peritoneal dialysis — "one of the two largest PD centres in the world"
• Automated PD (APD) devices
• Satellite PD centres across the Pearl River Delta
• Prof. Yang Xiao's team researches PD-related peritonitis management

2. IgA Nephropathy — Top Research Priority

• Focus on genetics and immune mechanisms
• International multicentre collaboration, including an NSFC key international cooperation project on whole-genome studies

3. Lupus Nephritis & Immune-Related Kidney Diseases

• Core strength of department director Prof. Chen Wei
• Helped draft several expert consensuses of the Chinese Society of Nephrology

4. Blood Purification & Critical-Care Renal Support

• 60 dialysis machines and CRRT for critically ill patients
• 1,000+ renal biopsies per year

5. Rare Kidney Diseases

• Hereditary and rare kidney disorders

6. Full-Cycle CKD Management

• From early screening to renal replacement therapy
• Epidemiological surveys and community intervention

Expert Team

Conditions Treated

• Primary glomerular diseases: IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy
• Immune-related kidney disease: lupus nephritis, vasculitis-related kidney damage
• Secondary kidney disease: diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive kidney damage
• CKD full-cycle management
• End-stage kidney disease: PD, HD, home/APD program planning
• Acute kidney injury and CRRT
• Hereditary and rare kidney diseases

Location & Contact

The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Main campus: 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China Nansha campus: 8 Hengshun Er Road, Nansha District, Guangzhou

• Main switchboards: +86-20-87755766 / +86-20-87332200
• Nansha switchboard: +86-20-89998001
• Website: www.fahsysu.org.cn
• Access: ~1 hour by high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon

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This guide is prepared for international patients. If you need assistance with a medical consultation, appointment booking, or travel arrangements to the Nephrology Department at FAH-SYSU, contact Medora for personalized one-on-one support.