Claudio Ponticelli is an acknowledged expert in the field of nephrology, particularly in glomerular diseases and kidney transplantation. In glomerular diseases, he devised an original therapeutic schedule in primary membranous nephropathy, and has also co-ordinated randomised clinical trials in minimal change disease, focal glomerular sclerosis, and IgA nephropathy. During his career, Professor Ponticelli has been a member of the Council of the Italian Society of Nephrology, the Italian-American Society of Nephrology, and served as the President of the Italian Society of Nephrology. He has received numerous awards, including the ERA/EDTA Award for outstanding scientific achievements. Richard J. Glassock is an internationally recognised expert in the field of glomerular diseases and clinical nephrology. Currently Professor Emeritus at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, he is the past-president of the American Society of Nephrology, the National Kidney Foundation (USA), and past-Chairman of the American Board of Internal Medicine. Over his career he has been a visiting professor at over 100 academic institutions, and founded the NephSAP Journal of the American Society of Nephrology as Editor-in-Chief. He has received numerous awards and distinguished lectureships, including the David Hume Memorial Award of the National Kidney Foundation.