From the renal pathological point of view, more work needs to be done to understand the mechanisms through which HIV-1 infects and injures kidney epithelial cells, define the cell types and mechanism modulating the regeneration and recovery of kidney epithelial cells, determine whether kidney epithelial and/or infiltrating mononuclear cells could become a reservoir for the virus, define the role of the APOL-1 risk variants in the pathogenesis of childhood HIVAN, and explore other potential risk factors associated with African ancestry. The gene discussed is APOL1; the disease is HIV-associated nephropathy.