IgA Nephropathy Foundation Expands Support for Patients with Global Network Launch in Toronto
TORONTO — The IgA Nephropathy Foundation is set to launch its Go Global Network in Toronto, part of a new international initiative to strengthen peer-to-peer support, education, and advocacy for patients living with IgA Nephropathy (IgAN), a rare autoimmune kidney disease. The launch event will take place on May 14, bringing together nephrologists, pharmaceutical representatives, patients, and families to mark the occasion.
The Go Global Network is a patient-led initiative designed to connect individuals living with IgAN worldwide, providing access to crucial resources regardless of where they live. In Canada, approximately 1.6 people per 100,000 are affected by IgAN, with limited access to specialized treatments compared to other countries.
For one Canadian patient, Ruchi Ambike, diagnosed with IgAN in 2001, the journey was marked by isolation until attending an IgA Nephropathy Foundation symposium in Washington, D.C. in 2023. That experience of connection and support led them to become an Ambassador for the Foundation and take on advocacy efforts here in Canada. Their work includes organizing awareness events in Mississauga, creating a Facebook support group for Canadians with IgAN, and securing a proclamation from Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow declaring May 14 as IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day.
In addition to fostering community, the Foundation is pushing for expanded access to new medications that slow the progression of IgAN — treatments already approved in several countries but not yet available in Canada. The Foundation is collaborating with nephrologists and pharmaceutical companies to address this gap.
“We want to ensure that no patient feels alone, no matter where they are,” said Bonnie Schneider – co-founder of IgA Nephropathy Foundation, in the official announcement. “Through the Go Global Network, we are building a strong global community that shares knowledge, support, and hope.”
The Toronto launch underscores the Foundation’s commitment to improving outcomes for patients worldwide while spotlighting the specific needs of Canadian patients. In addition to partnerships with local organizations like the Kidney Foundation of Ontario and the Ontario Renal Network, Canadian advocates hope that the momentum generated by the Go Global Network will lead to tangible changes in treatment access and support.
For more information about the IgA Nephropathy Foundation and the Go Global Network, visit www.igan.org.
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