The International IgA Nephropathy Network held the 16th International Symposium on IgA Nephropathy September 21-23 and George Clinical scientific leader Professor Jonathan Barratt presented a key presentation during the first plenary session of the event.

Barratt, the Mayer professor of renal medicine at the University of Leicester, presented “RNA Interference in IgAN” on the first day of the conference which was held virtually.  The main topics of the symposium were pathogenesis, pathology and treatment of IgA nephropathy. Special attention was paid to discussing various pathogenetic mechanisms of IgA nephropathy targeted in ongoing randomized controlled trials. The network believes that with the expansion of therapeutic options, the outcome of patients with progressive IgA nephropathy will significantly improve. In addition to professional lectures and satellite symposia, there were also poster sessions dedicated to the original communications.

Other sessions of note featuring Barratt included: “Impact of VIS649, an APRIL-Neutralizing IgG2 Monoclonal Antibody, on Tetanus- and Diphtheria-Toxoid Vaccination-Elicited Immune Responses in Healthy Volunteers: Phase 1, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study,” “What Role Does Complement Activation Play in IgAN,” “A Phase 1/2, Multicenter Trial to Investigate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of BION-1301 in Healthy Volunteers and Adults with IgA Nephropathy,” “Interim Results of a Phase 1/2 Trial to Investigate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Clinical Activity of BION-1301 in Patients with IgA Nephropathy,”

Sessions with other scientific leaders included: “Modulating Non-Immune Pathways: How Might This Help? with Professor Hiddo L. Heerspink and “Establishing a Global Network to Promote Involvement in Kidney Disease Research” from Professor David Wheeler.

Barratt leads the Renal Research Group within the College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester. His research is focused on a bench to bedside approach to improving our understanding of the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy, a common global cause of kidney failure. Barratt is the IgA nephropathy Rare Disease Group lead for the UK National Registry of Rare Kidney Diseases (RaDaR) and a member of the steering committee for the International IgA Nephropathy Network. He works closely with pharmaceutical companies interested in new treatments for IgA nephropathy and is chief investigator for several international randomized controlled Phase II and III clinical trials in IgA nephropathy and was a member of the FDA and American Society of Nephrology Kidney Health Initiative: Identifying Surrogate Endpoints for Clinical Trials in IgA Nephropathy Work Group.