The Salt and Water Club has held over 140 meetings throughout its 70+ year history. However the nature, composition and mandates of the club are little changed since its inception. The objectives remain the presentation of work-in-progress in the general area of “salt and water metabolism” to a knowledgeable and critical peer audience.
Previous Members of the Salt and Water Club have made extraordinary contributions to the fields of epithelial ion channel and transporter biology, fluid/electrolyte regulation and kidney physiology. The earliest record of the Club membership in the current archives is from January 1953. What is most striking about the early membership are the number of notable names in the nephrology/kidney physiology field, best exemplified by Robert W. Berliner. These early members represent some of the founding fathers of modern kidney research in the USA. Members went on to become chairs of departments and divisions, deans at several medical schools, members of the National Academy of Sciences and were involved in the first successful kidney transplant between identical twins.
Meetings of The Salt and Water Club continue uninterrupted today, with the ~50 active members elected by nominations from the existing club membership.