Terry J. Watnick, MD, professor of neurology and director of Maryland PKD Clinical Center of Excellence, explains that polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder that causes kidney cysts, leading to various complications including high blood pressure, urinary tract infections, and end-stage kidney disease. It can also cause serious issues outside the kidney, such as liver cysts and brain aneurysms. PKD affects about 600,000 people in the US and is the most common inherited disorder leading to renal failure. The University of Maryland’s PKD Clinical Center of Excellence provides comprehensive patient-centered care and research to discover new treatments. Currently, only one drug has been approved by the FDA for PKD treatment, highlighting the need for further research.