China's Top Departments: Nephrology at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University

If you're facing kidney disease — whether it's IgA nephropathy, chronic kidney disease, or you need dialysis or transplant care — Huashan Hospital's Department of Nephrology is one of China's most experienced centers. Founded in the 1960s by Professors Chuanlu Qiu and Shanjian Lin — two of the three founding figures of nephrology in China — this department is a National Key Discipline, one of China's first doctoral programs in nephrology, and the only ISN Interventional Nephrology Training Center in China.

The department was restructured in 2023 into Division 1 (Main Campus) and Division 2 (Baoshan Campus). Division 1 houses inpatient wards, a hemodialysis center, a peritoneal dialysis center, a renal pathology center, a kidney transplant center, the Fudan Institute of Nephrology, and the Shanghai AI-Assisted Medical Engineering Center.

Historical Milestones

Huashan's Nephrology Department has a rich history of firsts in Chinese kidney care:

• 1962: Prof. Chuanlu Qiu performed China's first percutaneous renal biopsy and initiated peritoneal dialysis
• 1964: Formal establishment of the Nephrology Department
• 1974: Hemodialysis unit founded — one of the earliest in China
• 1975: China's first successful kidney transplant performed in collaboration with Urology; the first recipient remains alive
• 1985: Prof. Qiu became Chair of the 2nd Chinese Society of Nephrology (CSN)
• 1991: Prof. Lin pioneered the "integrated care" concept for chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• 1996: Independent Renal Pathology Laboratory established
• 1998: Prof. Lin elected Chair of the 5th CSN
• 2001: Prof. Lin elected ISN Council Member
• 2004: Establishment of the Fudan Institute of Nephrology
• 2005: Long-term collaboration with Vanderbilt University Renal Pathology Center; multidisciplinary nutrition clinic launched
• 2016: Kidney aging research initiated under the National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases
• 2018: Pioneered AI product development for hemodialysis management
• 2024: Hemodialysis quality management outcomes published in NEJM Catalyst

Core Strengths & Specialized Services

1. Immunological Nephrology & Renal Pathology

Prof. Qiu performed China's first renal biopsy in 1962. The independent pathology lab (est. 1996) collaborates with Vanderbilt University (since 2005), establishing China's first internationally standardized renal pathology diagnostic protocol and a global telepathology platform. Over 1,500 renal biopsies are interpreted annually — one of the highest volumes in Shanghai. Expertise covers IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, minimal change disease, FSGS, diabetic nephropathy, lupus nephritis, ANCA vasculitis, and hepatitis B-associated nephropathy.

2. Integrated CKD Care

Prof. Lin was the first in China to propose an integrated CKD management model focusing on metabolic derangements. The department has developed precision diagnostic systems for hypertension-related electrolyte imbalances, glucose/lipid metabolism disorders, and mineral bone abnormalities. Research findings have been cited in international guidelines, including the 2020 KDIGO CKD Nutrition Guideline.

The department pioneered "total parathyroidectomy with forearm autograft" (1999, first in Shanghai) for severe hyperparathyroidism, achieving global-leading academic impact in CKD-MBD management.

3. Hemodialysis & Blood Purification

The hemodialysis unit (est. 1974) introduced numerous first-in-China techniques: autologous AV fistula, ultrapure dialysis, citrate anticoagulation, CRRT, incremental hemodialysis, and independent dialysis. In 2008, it deployed China's first digital hemodialysis management system. Since 2018, it has pioneered AI-based dialysis products. Patient 5-year survival and complication control rates are internationally leading. The center's management model was published in NEJM Catalyst in 2024.

4. Peritoneal Dialysis

Initiated in 1962, the formal PD center (est. 2005) operates a specialized MDT team including PD physicians, nurses, dietitians, social workers, and clinical pharmacists. Key quality indicators:

• Dropout rate: <10%
• Mean PD duration: 72–106 months
• Peritonitis rate: 85–100 patient-months/episode

Performance ranks among the top in China.

5. Kidney Transplant Medical Management

Since the 1970s, the department has collaborated with Urology on kidney transplantation, establishing China's only internationally-aligned, tightly integrated surgical-medical transplant MDT workflow. It is one of China's first DCD organ donation pilot units. Comprehensive protocols cover graft assessment, acute/chronic rejection, post-transplant infection prophylaxis, and cardiovascular event prevention.

6. CRRT & Critical Care

Advanced blood purification therapies include ECCO₂ removal, plasmapheresis, plasma diafiltration (PDF), lipid apheresis, and immunoadsorption — providing critical support for sepsis, liver failure, and neurological emergencies. The department established China's first hospital-wide CRRT Quality Control Committee.

Key Faculty

• Professor Shanjian Lin (Emeritus): Former ISN Council Member, recipient of the ISN International Distinguished Service Award and Pioneer Award
• Professor Chuanming Hao (Academic Lead): Member, ASN Nominating Committee; Chair, Chinese Physiological Society Renal Committee
• Professor Jing Chen (Division 1 Director): ISN Dialysis Working Group member; CSN Standing Committee member; Deputy Director, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases

The Division 1 team comprises 32 staff members, including 17 with senior titles, 92% holding doctoral degrees, and over 50% with overseas training. The department supervises 4 doctoral and 4 master's supervisors and has trained over 130 doctoral graduates, 120 master's graduates, with more than 30 now serving as department chairs at tertiary hospitals nationwide.

Research Standing

• Two-time host institution of the CSN Presidency
• Three-time host of the Shanghai Society of Nephrology Presidency
• Founded the Fudan Institute of Nephrology (2004)
• Principal investigator of >100 national and provincial research grants (National Key R&D Programs, 973 Program, NSFC Major/Key projects)
• Hundreds of publications in NEJM, J Clin Invest, J Am Soc Nephrol, Kidney Int, etc.
• More than 10 provincial/ministerial science and technology awards

Rankings & Recognition

• National Key Discipline (Ministry of Education)
• National Clinical Key Specialty (National Health Commission)
• ISN International Nephrology Training Center (first batch in China)
• Only ISN Interventional Nephrology Training Center in China
• Fudan Hospital Rankings: Top 5 in East China for Nephrology (Reputation Score)

Contact Information

Main Campus Address: 12 Wulumuqi Middle Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai
Hospital Switchboard: +86-21-52889999

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🌐 This guide is prepared for an international audience. Information compiled from public sources. Data as of 2026.