(New York, NY – March 31, 2026) — The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is pleased to announce that Wolfgang C. Winkelmayer, MD, MPH, ScD, has been appointed the next Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD), the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation. His term will officially begin January 1, 2027, with a transition period starting in late summer 2026.
Founded in 1981, AJKD is recognized worldwide as a leading source of information devoted to clinical research and the practice of nephrology.
Dr. Winkelmayer is a Professor of Medicine, holds the Gordon A. Cain Chair in Nephrology, and serves as Chief of the Section of Nephrology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Internationally recognized for his contributions to kidney disease research and medical publishing, Dr. Winkelmayer brings decades of experience as an investigator, clinician, educator, and editorial leader.
“Dr. Winkelmayer is an internationally respected nephrologist, researcher, and editor whose vision and leadership will further strengthen AJKD’s role as a premier journal in kidney medicine, building on the exceptional growth in quality and impact we’ve seen during Harv Feldman’s 10-year term ” said Kirk Campbell, MD, President of the National Kidney Foundation. “We are thrilled to welcome him as Editor-in-Chief and are confident that under his guidance, AJKD will continue to advance impactful science and improve the lives of people affected by kidney disease.”
Originally from Vienna, Austria, Dr. Winkelmayer earned his medical degree from the University of Vienna, followed by a Master of Public Health in Health Care Management and a Doctor of Science in Health Policy from Harvard University. He spent eight years on the faculty at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he established himself as a leader in comparative-effectiveness research in nephrology. Prior to joining Baylor College of Medicine in 2014, he served for five years at Stanford University School of Medicine as Director of Clinical Research in the Division of Nephrology.
“I am deeply honored and excited to serve as Editor-in-Chief of AJKD,” said Dr. Winkelmayer. “The journal has a long-standing tradition of publishing rigorous, clinically meaningful research that advances kidney care worldwide. I look forward to collaborating closely with the editorial team, authors, and reviewers to further strengthen AJKD’s impact and to support innovation, transparency, and excellence in nephrology research. We are particularly keen to make AJKD the most author-friendly journal in the kidney space and to expedite publication of novel research and actionable content for clinicians.”
Dr. Winkelmayer’s research has focused on the intersection between kidney and cardiovascular health, with particular emphasis on studying the effectiveness and safety of cardiovascular interventions in patients with kidney disease, helping to inform evidence-based clinical care for individuals with chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.
A long-standing leader in medical publishing, Dr. Winkelmayer currently serves as Associate Editor for Nephrology at JAMA and previously served as Co-Editor of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases for 10 years. From 2016 to 2024, he served as Co-Chair of Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), an international guideline organization in nephrology.
NKF looks forward to Dr. Winkelmayer’s leadership as AJKD continues to advance high-quality research, clinical insight, and scholarly excellence in kidney disease.
About Kidney Disease
In the United States, CKD remains an under-recognized public health burden that impacts 1 in 7 adults, and 90 percent of those affected are unaware of their condition. Approximately 1 in 3 U.S. adults are at risk for CKD, but less than 20% are assessed with guideline-recommended testing, eGFR and uACR. Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are about four times as likely as White people to develop kidney failure. Hispanic and Native American people experience kidney failure at approximately double the rate of White people.
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org.
About AJKD
The American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD), the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, is recognized worldwide as a leading source of information devoted to clinical nephrology practice and clinical research. Articles selected for publication in AJKD undergo a rigorous consideration process, supporting the journal's goal to communicate important new information in clinical nephrology in a way that strengthens knowledge and helps physicians to provide their patients with the highest standard of care.
To learn more, visit https://www.ajkd.org/.
###
Sam Tyler
National Kidney Foundation
Phone: (202) 279-1505
Email: sam.tyler@kidney.org