ABOUT US

 

During the Second International IgA Nephropathy Symposium in Bari, Italy in 1987, participants from four countries, G. D'Amico from Italy, H. Sakai from Japan, A. Clarkson from Australia and B. Julian from the United States, met to organize an informal group, the IgA Nephropathy Club. The purpose was to increase awareness of the clinical importance of the disease and to encourage national and international collaboration in clinical and basic science research. Some of the initial approaches were to better define the clinical features in adults and children, and to search for clinical and laboratory markers to predict the long-term prognosis. Everyone agreed that the two symposia, the first having been held in Milano, Italy in 1983, had been well organized and served to personalize relationships between investigators who had a common goal to solve the mysteries and puzzles presented by IgA nephropathy. This kidney disease had become recognized as the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis in the short time span since its initial description by Drs. J Berger and N. Hinglais in 1968. However, up to that point, the clinical impact of the disease was underappreciated by nephrologists and general physicians in many countries. The gatherings at the symposia spawned productive collaborative clinical and laboratory undertakings. These efforts increased awareness of the disease in many medical communities and agencies funding medical research.

Over the ensuing years, an international symposium has been held every two to three years. The members of the IgA Nephropathy Club encouraged interested investigators to organize meetings at venues that have rotated between continents, whereby young scientists, physicians, and students in many regions of the world could more easily attend. A listing of past and future symposia can be found at the Meetings link at this website. The content has generally included overviews and summaries by senior clinicians and laboratory scientists. The topics at these meetings have touched on most of the state-of–the-art work in the field. The interactions between the attendees were often instrumental in stimulating new investigative approaches. The opportunity to review the results and discuss the implications was frequently beneficial in the preparation of more polished manuscripts to be submitted for publication.

In 2000 the IgA Nephropathy Club recognized the need to rejuvenate its format. A more encompassing name was selected, the International IgA Nephropathy Network (IIgANN). The new efforts included changing its approach to a management committee with additional members from more research centers. Also, a website was started to better disseminate scientific information and educational materials to physicians, investigators, students and the general public. In 2003, the website was updated to www.igan-world.org and details about ongoing research and clinical trials were expanded.

IIgANN is a network of friends, colleagues and collaborators, so please, send your scientific contribution and open it to participation and discussion.

Help us make the International IgA Nephropathy network alive and active!

The current management committee (as at May 2004) comprises:

Convenor
John Feehally
United Kingdom
jf27@le.ac.uk		 Renato Monteiro
France
monteiro@bichat.inserm.fr
Secretary-Treasurer
Rosanna Coppo
Italy
rosanna.coppo@unito.it		 Bruce Julian
USA
bjulian@uab.edu
Y. Tomino
Japan
jin-01@med.juntendo.ac.jp		 John Knight
United Kingdom
jknight@prdgb.jnj.com

 
A.R Clarkson and R. Coppo
Y. Tomino and A.R. Clarkson
   
R. Coppo, Y. Tomino and A. Amore

Please send us pictures of people working in IgAN field.

Contact Details
The International IgA Nephropathy Network
Webmaster: Webmaster@igan-world.org