Our mission is to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of children with kidney and urinary tract diseases by investigating the underlying causes and mechanisms of initiation and progression of these conditions with high quality basic science and clinical research. Current active projects within the unit include investigations into: the genetics and cell biology of normal and abnormal development of the kidney and urinary tract; the reconstruction and functional restoration of abnormal genitourinary tracts; the renal vasculature and hypertension; nephrotic syndrome and vasculitis; the clinical consequences and treatment of kidney failure in children; control of differentiation of epithelial and endothelial cell lineages; genetics and cell biology of renal tubular disease; nutrition, growth and bone turnover in children with renal failure. In addition, the unit has been very successful in academic training of PhD, MD, MSc and both national and international visiting fellows. The unit also organises and hosts the prestigious annual Paediatric Nephrology and Urology week and initiated the Kidney Development workshop, which has now expanded into the yearly European Nephrogenesis workshop.