Dialysis for acute renal failure with the Travenol machine from 1959 (photograph presumed 1960s).

Edinburgh’s own website edren.org has detail of early dialysis and transplantation in Edinburgh

1800s

The first nephrologist Richard Bright obtained his MD from the University of Edinburgh, but wrote his report from Guy’s Hospital in London. Nephrology in Edinburgh truly began with Robert Christison, an early enthusiast for Bright’s observations, which he extended. He notably described proteinuria that improved spontaneously, without the prognostic implications described by Bright, and wrote about proteinuria that coincided with haematuria – case histories that we would now recognise as acute glomerulonephritis.

Christison had an extraordinarily long career that included presidency of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Professor of Medicine, and Dean of the Medical School. He famously gave evidence for the prosecution at the trial of William Burke, convicted of murder in order to sell bodies for dissection, in 1829. Unfortunately he later became known for leading the opposition to permitting women to study medicine, preventing the ‘Edinburgh Seven’, the first women undergraduates in the UK in 1869, from graduating [Wikipedia page on Robert Christison].

Dialysis and transplantation

Report on the UK’s artificial kidney units, 1958.

Keen interest in Nephrology returned to Edinburgh in the late 1950s. A 1958 report into what type of dialysis machine to buy (pdf, 40k) involved visiting the 3 centres where dialysis was already in place, and makes fascinating reading today. When dialysis was first undertaken in Edinburgh, it was still one of very few pioneer centres. James Robson was the consultant and University professor leading the programme, but Anne Lambie took on running the acute service.

Very shortly afterwards, the UK’s first successful kidney transplant was undertaken in Edinburgh, between identical twins. Work on cadaveric transplantation followed, and Edinburgh became recognised worldwide.

[transplantation more]

A notable Meeting in Edinburgh in March 1961 considered both dialysis and transplantation in these very early days of their emergence as viable therapies.

Mixed in with some ultimately unsuccessful attempts at cadaveric transplantation using whole body irradiation, the second patient in the world to receive azathioprine was transplanted  in 1962.

Robson soon became  involved in discussions about support for provision of dialysis and transplantation across the UK, and was a president of the UK Renal Association. Edinburgh was one of the centres chosen for establishment of one of the units for longterm dialysis for end stage renal failure.

A history of the establishment of the  Medical Renal Unit (MRU) was written in 1988, probably by Anne Lambie. (History of Edinburgh MRU 1988, pdf 5Mb).

Present day

Research into renal diseases in Edinburgh has been strong again since the late 1990s, with the arrival of (Prof Sir) John Savill and subsequently a number of other University appointments to work alongside the clinical team, as well as in research labs.

Further information

• A history of the establishment of the  Medical Renal Unit (MRU) was written in 1988, probably by Anne Lambie. (History of Edinburgh MRU 1988, pdf 5Mb)
• Edinburgh’s own website edren.org has detail of early dialysis and transplantation in Edinburgh
• Cameron JS 2007. Sir Robert Christison (1797-1882): the man, his times, and his contributions to nephrology. J Roy Coll Physicians Edinb 37:155-72

Authorship

First published 2022

Last Updated on April 25, 2025 by neilturn