Berger’s disease, autoimmune kidney disease

Berger’s disease, also known as IgA nephropathy, is an autoimmune disease that damages a person’s kidneys. It affects between 2 and 10 out of every 100,000 people each year and although it often occurs in young adults, it may appear during childhood. In children, the disease not only affects the kidneys, but also hinders the child’s overall development. With funding from the Foundation of Stars, we will take a giant step towards a better understanding of Berger’s disease and, consequently, towards an unparalleled quality of life for the children living with it.

This research aims to better predict the trajectory of the disease and, depending on its level of aggressiveness, to adjust the strength of treatment; design new and more effective treatments with fewer side effects, thus improving the children’s health and overall development; use new therapeutic options and new biomarkers to cut down on the number of patients in need of dialysis or transplants; and to develop new screening strategies so that the disease can be detected and managed even before the onset of symptoms.