Mayer IgA Nephropathy Research Group
Powering world-leading kidney research
Kidney disease affects one-in-10 people worldwide. This means you are highly likely to know someone, whether in your family, circle of friends or professional network, who is living with it. The financial, emotional and social burden on patients and their families is considerable, and the cost to healthcare systems is substantial.
IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) is a chronic kidney disease that is often diagnosed at a young age, typically in a person’s twenties or thirties. Until recently, there were no specific treatments for IgAN, leaving those diagnosed facing a lifetime of uncertainty and often gruelling therapies.
Progress in treating kidney disease has historically been slow, but recent years have seen a rapid acceleration. The Mayer IgA Nephropathy Research Group, based at the University of Leicester, is at the forefront of this change, driving new understanding of IgAN and contributing significantly to the development of new therapies.
There have been exciting advances, including the approval of two new medicines in the UK - Kenpeygo and Sparsentan - and many more treatments are currently undergoing clinical trials.
Research at Leicester is playing a crucial role in sustaining this momentum for change in kidney care. The Mayer IgA Nephropathy Research Group has fully embraced a ‘bench to bedside’ approach, ensuring that scientific discoveries are swiftly translated into clinical practice.
Collaboration is also a key priority. The Group’s global network helps ensure that breakthroughs made in Leicester benefit wider research into other chronic kidney diseases and autoimmune conditions.
We are currently involved in several promising treatment developments, and our long-term goal remains unchanged: to find a cure.
