Nicola Thomas has been a renal nurse for over 20 years. She has clinical experience in nephrology, haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis and has taught diploma and degree level renal courses at City University for over ten years. She is currently undertaking a PhD and exploring the ways in which the progression of diabetic nephropathy can be slowed through patient-centred education. In 2001 she was President of the European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association / European Renal Care Association (EDTNA/ERCA) and is now Chair of the EDTNA/ERCA Education Board.