American Society of Nephrology American Society of Nephrology Founded in 1966, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is the world’s largest professional society devoted to the study of kidney disease. Composed of over 16,000 physicians and scientists, ASN promotes expert patient care, advances medical research, and educates the renal community. ASN also informs policymakers about issues of importance to kidney doctors and their patients. Each year, the ASN and the ASN Foundation for Kidney Research provide nearly 400 research and travel grants. ASN annual meetings are attended by approximately 13,000 participants, and regional meetings are held throughout the year. The society publishes the "Journal
Circumventricular organs Circumventricular organs Circumventricular organs (CVOs) are structures in the brain characterized by their extensive and highly permeable microvasculature, unlike those in the rest of the brain where there exists a blood brain barrier (BBB). The term "circumventricular organs" was originally proposed in 1958 by Austrian anatomist Helmut Hofer, in recognition of the distribution of the structures around the ventricular system of the brain. The circumventricular organs are midline structures around the third and fourth ventricles that are in contact with blood and cerebrospinal fluid, and allow for the linkage between the central nervous system and peripheral blood. Additionally, they are