2024 PKD Summit
Watch the video recordings of all sessions!
The PKD Foundation of Canada was proud to present the 4th Annual Virtual PKD Summit on November 6 and 7, 2024. The PKD Summit is Canada’s leading patient-focused educational event in the field of polycystic kidney disease. The PKD Foundation of Canada's mission is to promote programs of research, advocacy, education, support, and awareness, in order to discover treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney disease, and improve the lives of all it affects.
Entire 2024 PKD Summit Playlist
Topics & Speakers
Day 1 - Wed Nov 6, 2024
12:00pm - 12:50pm EST: Roundtable discussion: Pediatric PKD Care, and Transition to Adult Care - Panelists: Dr. Lisa M. Guay-Woodford, Pediatric Nephrologist; Marie-Pierre Schryburt, ARPKD patient; Michelle Lynne Goodfellow, PKD Foundation of Canada
This roundtable discussion of pediatric ADPKD and ARPKD will touch on care and management of PKD in children, as well as the teenage transition from pediatric to adult care.
Dr. Lisa M. Guay-Woodford is an internationally recognized pediatric nephrologist whose work focuses on identifying clinical and genetic factors involved in the pathogenesis of inherited renal disorders, most notably autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). Her laboratory participated in the identification of the human ARPKD gene as part of an international consortium, and her group was the first to identify a candidate modifier gene for ARPKD. She has directed the NIDDK-funded Hepato-Renal Fibrocystic Disease Research and Translational Core Center, initially established when she was at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and she continues to serve as co-Director of the UAB Childhood Cystic Kidney Disease Core Center. Her research program has been funded by the NIH, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Clinical Scientist Award in Translational Research, and the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation. In 2009, Dr. Guay-Woodford was awarded the Lillian Jean Kaplan International Prize for Advancement in the Understanding of Polycystic Kidney Disease, given by the PKD Foundation and the International Society of Nephrology.
Dr. Guay-Woodford has assumed the role of Senior Advisor for Clinical and Translational Research Initiatives and Director of the Inherited Kidney Diseases Program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She holds the Presidential Scholar Endowed Chair for Clinical and Translational Science and serves as Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Marie-Pierre Schryburt is an ARPKD patient who received a kidney transplant shortly after her transition from pediatric to adult care.
1:00pm - 1:50pm EST: Mental Health and PKD - Presented by Joy Pekar, Registered Psychotherapist
Living with a chronic condition like polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is not just about managing physical symptoms; the emotional toll can be equally challenging. In this engaging and supportive workshop, licensed psychotherapist Joy Pekar will dive into the emotional impact of PKD, helping you navigate feelings of anxiety, stress, and uncertainty that often accompany chronic illness. Whether you’re dealing with the pain and exhaustion of daily symptoms, or the added strain of treatments like dialysis or a potential transplant, this session will provide practical strategies to care for your mental well-being.
Joy Pekar is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) whose professional practice is shaped by personal experience. Joy's family has been directly impacted by polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a journey that has included searching for a kidney donor and navigating the emotional complexities of dialysis and transplant. With this deep understanding, she helps individuals and families cope with the emotional toll of chronic illness, particularly kidney disease, offering compassionate support and mental wellness strategies.
2:00pm - 2:50pm EST: Caregiver Burnout and How To Prevent It - Presented by Barb Sexsmith and Tricia Hutton, Nephrology Social Workers
This presentation will discuss caregiver stress, recognizing signs of caregiver burnout, resources to assist with caregiver burnout, and financial resources.
Barb Sexsmith is a social worker with Halton Healthcare in Oakville, ON. Her background as a hospital social worker has included working with patients and families on a variety of inpatient units such as medical/surgical, complex care and rehab. Barb joined the renal team, and CANSW, in January 2020 and currently works with outpatients on the In-Center Hemodialysis unit as well as Independent Dialysis patients, both PD and HHD.
Tricia Hutton is a social worker with the Saskatchewan Health Authority in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. Tricia works with outpatient dialysis patients at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon as well as the Satellite Units throughout Central/Northern Saskatchewan. Tricia joined CANSW in 2012 and has served as Saskatchewan/ Manitoba Regional Representative, Vice President and currently as President.
3:00pm - 3:50pm EST: Répondre à vos questions sur la MPR - Présenté par le Dr Guillaume Bollée, néphrologue (French session)
Cette session fournira les réponses à de nombreuses questions courantes que les patients atteints de la MPR peuvent se poser, ainsi qu'une période de questions et réponses en direct où les téléspectateurs pourront poser des questions au néphrologue.
Le Dr Guillaume Bollée est néphrologue au Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) et à l'Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM). Il dirige la clinique de maladies rénales rares à l’IRCM, qui évalue et traite les patients atteints de diverses maladies rénales dont la polykystose rénale. Il a déjà eu l'occasion à plusieurs reprises de collaboration avec la Fondation pour la MPR pour l'organisation de forums d'information et de discussion sur la MPR.
Day 2 - Thu Nov 7, 2024
12:00 pm - 12:50 pm EST: Metabolic Health and its effect on PKD - Presented by Dr. York Pei, Nephrologist and PKD Researcher
This session by Dr. York Pei, a leading researcher in the field of PKD, will explore how metabolic health influences PKD progression. A focus on current research in areas such as insulin resistance, obesity, and hypertension, will offer insights into how these factors may affect PKD progression, and point to emerging strategies for managing PKD more effectively.
York Pei, MD, FRCP(C), FACP, FASN, is a Professor of Medicine from the Division of Nephrology at the University of Toronto; a Senior Scientist from the Toronto General Research Institute; and the Director of the Centre for Innovative Management of Polycystic Kidney Disease, University Health Network in Toronto, Canada.
His research focuses on genetic, genomic, and translational research of hereditary kidney diseases with a major focus on autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). He also made important contributions to genetic research of familial IgA nephropathy, familial nephrotic syndrome, and Alport syndrome. He has published over 180 peer-reviewed articles, collaborated widely with researchers nationally and internationally, and trained numerous clinical and research fellows in hereditary kidney disease.
He founded the Centre for Innovative Management for Polycystic Kidney Disease in 2016 which provides advanced diagnostic and novel therapeutics for ADPKD. More than 500 patients are currently followed or co-managed at the centre with over 95% of them involved in at least one research project.
Dr. Pei was the co-recipient of the Lillian Jean Kaplan International Prize for polycystic kidney disease in 2019 and the recipient of the Medal for Research Excellence by the Kidney Foundation of Canada in 2020.
1:00 pm - 1:50 pm EST: Debunking PKD Nutrition Myths - Presented by Emily Campbell, Registered Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator
Following a healthy diet when you have polycystic kidney disease can sometimes seem daunting, and you may hear a lot of conflicting recommendations and advice when you're looking for answers online. In this presentation, Registered Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator Emily Campbell will talk about how to manage polycystic kidney disease (PKD) through smart food choices.
Emily will go over the latest advice on healthy eating for PKD, to help you build long-term, healthy habits. She’ll look at popular diets like keto, low osmolar, plant-based, and intermittent fasting, and explain which foods can help your kidneys.
Emily Campbell is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with a Master of Science in Foods and Nutrition. Emily is the owner of Kidney Nutrition where she supports those living with kidney disease all over Canada through group and one on one nutrition support.
Emily started her education at Western University including her two undergraduate degrees and Masters of Science and accredited internship. It was not until internship that Emily fell in love with nephrology and has primarily worked in this area.
Emily is involved in various local and national nephrology organizations including being an invited speaker for various pharmaceutical companies as well as various kidney foundations throughout Canada, a three-time cookbook author for those living with chronic kidney disease, and co-chair of the Southwestern Ontario Canadian Association of Nephrology Dietitians. Emily is passionate about taking the complex world of nutrition and breaking it down to support those living with kidney disease.
3:00 pm - 3:50 pm EST: Preclinical Findings of Current PKD Research Project: Seeking New Drug Targets to Halt PKD - Presented by Dr. Marie Trudel, PhD
Dr. Marie Trudel, our 2024 PKD research grant recipient, will present her team's latest pre-clinical research findings on a key ion channel's role in polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
This presentation, designed for PKD patients, their families, and friends, will cover the basics of PKD, how kidney cysts form and grow, and current treatments available.
Dr. Trudel will explain how researchers are identifying the main factors driving PKD and how they’ve discovered an ion channel that can be controlled with a drug to potentially stop the disease.
She will also share exciting updates about their ongoing work on liver cysts and new ways to target polycystic liver disease (PLD) for future treatments.
Dr. Marie Trudel is full professor and director of Molecular Genetic and Development, professor in the department of Medicine at U de Montreal and adjunct professor at McGill U. Dr. Trudel did her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Dr. Marianne Grunberg- Manago, President, National Academy of Science) at Institut de biologie physico-chimique Paris, France Postdoctoral fellowship in DNA damage and repair, Drs. Mark Meuth and Tom Lindahl Nobel laureate 2015, at Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London UK Postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Frank Costantini, Columbia University, NY USA
Dr. Trudel received several awards during her training: Foreign Affairs France; Medical Research Foundation Paris, France; Institut de recherche en santé et sécurité du travail (IRSST) Quebec; American Leukemia Society, USA; Centennial Fellowship from the Medical Research Council of Canada. Studentships and fellowships were declined from Fonds de la recherche en santé du Quebec FRSQ; Leukemia Research Fund US. As PI Dr. Trudel received Scholarship from Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec FRSQ : junior II, Senior I and II.
In the last 30 years, the Trudel laboratory has established a major research program on the study of ADPKD. The lab aims to decipher the cellular and mechanistic function of the gene responsible for ADPKD. They have developed unique and highly pertinent mouse models of PKD that most closely reproduce human ADPKD with not only the renal disorder but also several of the typical extrarenal phenotypes including liver cysts, cardiovascular anomalies, and cerebral aneurysms. Studies of these mouse models have provided clues on key signaling pathways and molecular effectors using genetic, cell biological, biochemical, and multi-omic approaches. Her lab pioneer work on regulation of Pkd1 has also determined the roles of different transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms. Studies from her team have advanced our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of ADPKD and identified potential therapeutic targets for PKD treatment toward preclinical investigation.
Dr. Trudel has received numerous funds from the CIHR on a continuous basis from 1989, from NIH, DOD, PKDF of Canada, PKDF USA.
Dr. Trudel participates actively to the PKD Foundation USA scientific advisory board, community services, educational and awareness programs in different chapters throughout the country. Dr. Trudel has organized several conferences, member and president of board of directors; member or chair of jury committees, grant/scholarship committees.
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