Recent advances in genomic technologies have enabled comprehensive investigation of the genetic architecture of many primary glomerular disorders, leading to the identification of common and rare variants that can subclassify disease. The discoveries have clinical implications for diagnosis, risk stratification and sometimes for therapy. This lecture and will discuss advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome, IgA nephropathy and membranous nephropathy, and prospects for application of precision medicine approaches to enhance clinical care for these disorders.