2026 PKD Summit: Knowledge, support and hope for the future
Registration is now open!
Join the PKD Foundation of Canada for our 6th Annual Virtual PKD Summit, bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers and community organizations to explore the questions that matter most to people living with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and their families.
This year's Summit looks at both the challenges of living with PKD today and the possibilities ahead.
Across seven free online sessions, you'll explore:
- The future of PKD treatment: Emerging therapies being studied for ADPKD, beyond tolvaptan.
- Nutrition and kidney health: How to eat well without unnecessary food restrictions.
- Family planning: Support and financial assistance for families exploring ways to avoid passing PKD on to their children.
- Mental health and well-being: Understanding the emotional and social impacts of chronic illness, including the uncertainty of preparing for a kidney transplant.
- Navigating late-stage PKD: What to expect as kidney function declines, and how to prepare for dialysis or transplant.
- Finding PKD information and support: A guided tour of the Foundation's website, My PKD online community, educational videos and practical resources for every stage of PKD.
Whether you're newly diagnosed, managing PKD over time, preparing for the next stage of kidney care, or supporting someone you love, the 2026 PKD Summit offers reliable information, practical guidance and new perspectives to help you feel more informed, connected and prepared.
All seven sessions are free and held online. Register for one, several or all seven, depending on your interests!
Wednesday, November 4
12:00–12:50 p.m. ET | PKD-Free Alliance: Helping families plan for a PKD-free future
Presenters: Kevin Schnurr, Melinna Sanchez and a genetic counsellor
If you have PKD and are thinking about starting or growing your family, you may be wondering what support is available to help you avoid passing PKD on to your children.
Join PKD-Free Alliance, a US-based nonprofit organization that helps families explore reproductive choices, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-M). Learn about the Alliance's programs, grant funding available to eligible families in both Canada and the US, how to apply for financial assistance, and where to find more information and support.
1:00–1:50 p.m. ET | Mental health before kidney transplant
Presenter: Joy Friedman
Waiting for a kidney transplant can bring up many emotions, from hope and excitement to fear, frustration and uncertainty. You may be wondering when you'll need a transplant, whether you'll find a donor, or how to cope with decisions and timelines that feel beyond your control.
Join Joy Friedman for a compassionate look at the emotional challenges people may experience before transplant, why these feelings are understandable, and ways to support your mental health while navigating the unknowns.
2:00–2:50 p.m. ET | The next generation of ADPKD therapies
Presenter: Chris Chen
What does the future of PKD treatment look like? For people living with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), it can sometimes feel like progress is slow and treatment options are limited.
But researchers are exploring new approaches that could change how PKD is treated in the years ahead. Join Chris Chen to learn about emerging therapies being studied beyond tolvaptan, how they may work, and what these developments could mean for people living with PKD and future generations.
Thursday, November 5
12:00–12:50 p.m. ET | Food Freedom with PKD: How to Eat Well Without a List of Foods You ‘Can't’ Have
Presenter: Emily Campbell, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator
Eating well with PKD shouldn't have to feel like following an endless list of foods you can't have. But with so much nutrition advice available, it can be difficult to know what really matters for your kidney health.
Join Emily Campbell for a practical look at how food choices can support kidney health, which dietary recommendations may depend on your stage of PKD and lab results, and where you may have more flexibility than you think. Learn how to make informed, kidney-friendly food choices without unnecessary restrictions.
1:00–1:50 p.m. ET | The psychosocial impact of chronic disease
Presenter: Koen Luyckx
Living with PKD affects more than your kidneys. It can shape how you think about your future, your relationships, your identity and your emotional well-being, sometimes in ways that are difficult to explain to others.
Join researcher Koen Luyckx to explore what research tells us about the psychological and social impacts of living with a chronic disease like PKD. This session will help put words and research evidence behind experiences that many people living with PKD know all too well.
2:00–2:50 p.m. ET | Find your way: A guided tour of PKD resources and support
Presenter: Michelle Lynne Goodfellow, PKD Foundation of Canada
Looking for reliable information about PKD, but not sure where to start?
Join Michelle Lynne Goodfellow for an interactive, "choose your own adventure" tour of our website, My PKD online community, YouTube videos and practical resources.
Whether you're newly diagnosed, planning a family, raising a child with PKD, looking for nutrition and exercise advice, preparing for dialysis or transplant, or supporting someone you love, discover how to find information and support that matters to you.
3:00–3:50 p.m. ET | Navigating late-stage PKD
Presenter: Dr. Mike Bevilacqua, Nephrologist
As kidney function declines, it's natural to have questions about what happens next.
When should you start preparing for dialysis or transplant? What do your eGFR and other test results tell your nephrologist? When should a potential living donor begin testing, and what choices might you have?
Join Dr. Mike Bevilacqua for a practical discussion about navigating late-stage PKD, understanding how treatment decisions are made, and knowing which questions to ask your care team so you can feel more informed and prepared.
Have questions for our presenters?
When you register for a session, you'll have the opportunity to submit a question for the presenter to consider.
Is there something you've been wondering about? We'd love to hear it! Your questions help us understand what matters most to people living with PKD and their families.
Share the Summit with your family and friends
PKD often affects several generations of a family, and everyone's questions may be different.
You might be looking for information about staying healthy in the earlier stages of PKD, while a parent or sibling is preparing for transplant. Or someone in your family may be thinking about having children and exploring their reproductive choices.
Please share this event with anyone who might benefit. Each person can register for the sessions most relevant to them.
Help keep PKD learning and support free for everyone 💙
We believe everyone affected by PKD deserves access to reliable information, practical resources and a supportive community, regardless of their ability to pay.
If you've found our learning events or resources helpful, please consider making a donation. Your generosity helps us continue offering these programs free of charge, so more people and families can find the information and support they need.