Canadian Rare Disease Network

Managing Anxiety in Children and Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs)
2025-05-01 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton)
Presenters: Thomas Qiao, MSc, Research Coordinator, Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary Noah Furlani, MSc, Research Coordinator, Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary Dr. Kara Murias, MD PhD FRCPC, Pediatric Neurologist, Alberta Children’s Hospital; Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary

Palliative Care in Chorea and Huntington's Disease
2025-05-06 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Edmonton)
Educational webinars on rare neurological, neuromuscular and movement disorders jointly organized by the European Reference Networks for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND) and Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN-EuroNMD) and the European Academy of Neurology (EAN).

TruePKU Meeting
2025-05-08 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
Mark your calendar for May 8, 2025, for the TruePKU meeting – a first-of-its-kind opportunity for members of the PKU community to share their experiences, needs, and treatment priorities directly with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, life science companies with active PKU programs, researchers, and healthcare professionals.

Webinar for Patient Groups: Evolving Patient Group Input in Drug Reimbursement Reviews
2025-05-08 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Edmonton)

Webinar: Canadian Survey on the Impact of Disease
2025-05-09 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)

PxP-Upcoming webinar: Growing your influence and a patient partner
2025-05-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Vancouver)
Join PxP for an engaging webinar hosted in collaboration with the Patient Engagement Research Ambassadors at the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis.

The Canadian Friedreich Ataxia Journey
2025-05-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Edmonton)
Muscular Dystrophy Canada recognizes World Friedreich Ataxia Awareness Day on May 17th 2025. Join them as they share their learnings from their recent Friedreich Ataxia journey mapping project!

Rett Rounds: Live Webinar Education Session
2025-05-13 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Toronto)

KidsAction Coaching: Community physical activity programs tailored for you!
2025-05-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Vancouver)
🎤 Dr. Stephanie Glegg—a pediatric occupational therapist, researcher, and proud parent of a child with neurodiversity—will share how KidsAction Coaching supports children with exceptionalities to thrive in community-based physical activity programs.
🌍 You’ll learn about:
✅ Free online resources for families & program leaders
✅ 140+ inclusive physical activities
✅ Goal-setting & adaptation strategies
✅ Cultural safety & child-centered programming

Indigenous Data Governance Principles & New Approaches to Race-Related Data
2025-05-22 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Edmonton)
Working closely with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners as well as urban Indigenous health service providers, ICES has developed unique partnerships that include data governance and data sharing agreements. This work, supported by the Indigenous Partnerships, Data and Analytics department at ICES, enables Indigenous-driven analyses using ICES data. In this session, Dominique Legacy and Laura Ferreira-Legere will discuss becoming a trusted partner and forming partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations. They’ll explore current processes for using Indigenous data, and share how this work has informed planning for community governance of immigration data at ICES

D2R Scholar Awards Info Session
2025-05-28 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Edmonton)
Have questions about the D2R Scholar Award? Join their online info session On May 28th from12:30-1:30pm to learn more!

BHI Cafe Scientific-Where the brain and heart meet
2025-06-04 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Toronto)
This event will highlight innovative, patient-oriented strategies designed to address fragmented care for brain and heart conditions. Although brain and heart health are closely linked, the heath care system often treats them in isolation. This Café Scientific will showcase how research is driving real-world solutions that enhance patient care.

Wilson Disease Event for patients, families, and caregivers
2025-06-07 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
The newly formed Canadian chapter of Wilson Disease Association is hosting a one day conference for WD patients, caregivers, friends, medical students, physicians and supporters.
They are bringing together the top Canadian doctors who treat Wilson disease.
Great opportunity to network and learn more about treatment options for Wilson disease.
More details and registration link coming soon.
Open to everyone interested in learning more about this rare genetic disorder.
For more information, visit alice.williams@wilsonsdisease.org.

Community Conversation: The Living Rare Study
2025-06-12 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Edmonton)
Join NORD on Thursday, June 12 at 4 p.m. ET for a virtual conversation about the #LivingRareStudy. This session will guide you through joining the first large-scale study in the U.S. focused on tracking the real-life experiences of individuals and caregivers impacted by #RareDiseases, including how to create an #IAMRARE account, review the consent form, and navigate the platform.

Webinar - Key Considerations for Including Pediatric Populations with Neurodevelopmental Conditions in Clinical Trials
2025-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Edmonton)
Speakers: Evdokia Anagnostou and Mayada Elsabbagh Title: Key considerations for including pediatric populations with neurodevelopmental conditions in clinical trials

ALS Canada: Webinar-Driving Progress Forward
2025-06-18 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Edmonton)
In anticipation of Global ALS Awareness Day on June 21, join ALS Canada’s CEO Tammy Moore and the ALS Canada Team for a free, insightful webinar. Discover the comprehensive services and programs ALS Canada offers to Canadians living with and affected by ALS.
This engaging session will cover all mission areas, including community services, advocacy, research, and knowledge exchange, showcasing the extensive resources available nationwide.

Mito Med 2025 Masterclass on Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy with a Focus on TK2d
2025-06-21 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville)
New this year for Clinical-Scientific Attendees to UMDF’s #MitoMed Conference — a Masterclass on Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy (#PMM) with a Focus on #TK2d. Tracks for Early Career Investigators and for Up-and-Coming Clinicians.

Defeat Duchenne Canada-Industry Partner Update: REGENXBIO
2025-06-23 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Edmonton)
Join Defeat Duchenne Canada for an educational webinar featuring Dr. Jahannaz Dastgir, Executive Director of Clinical Development at REGENXBIO, as she shares the latest updates on RGX-202, an investigational gene therapy for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and their Phase 1/2/3 AFFINITY DUCHENNE® trial.
This session will provide valuable insights into the science behind RGX-202, trial progress, and what this potential investigational treatment could mean for the Duchenne community. Whether you are a parent, caregiver, clinician, or advocate, this webinar is an opportunity to stay informed and ask questions directly to the team leading this important research.

NMD Rounds & Educational Webinars-Bulbar impact of SMA: approach to assessment and treatment
2025-07-08 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Toronto)
NMD4C and MDC are pleased to invite you to a CPD-accredited webinar Bulbar impact of SMA: approach to assessment and treatment. NMD4C and MDC are providing organizational and technical support. This webinar is supported by Novartis through a restricted educational sponsorship with no involvement or influence on program content.

Rare Disease Day 2026 - Concept Introduction
2025-07-21 07:00 - 08:00 (America/Edmonton)
Company representatives and Rare Disease Day National Partners are warmly invited to this introductory session unveiling the vision for the 2026 campaign.

IMPaCT Webinar - An Overview of Current and Future Clinical Trials in Children: a European Perspective
2025-07-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto)
Dr. Eva Degraeuwe (MD-PhD) is a dedicated pediatric resident and researcher in pediatric nephrology and global clinical trial optimilisation. Working in many Global networks focused on rare and low prevalance diseases, she has completed her PhD in 2024 participating and guiding over 35 clinical trials. Moreover, she has a passion for patient engagement, especially within a clinical trial setting.
Webinar Overview:
– European network setting and the role of networks
– Pathways to clinical trial optimilisation
– Patient engagement and what has been achieved

Community of Practice- Beyond Inclusion: Co-Designing with Lived Experience to Build Meaningful Partnerships in Stroke Research
2025-07-30 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Edmonton)
📢 On July 30th from 12:00 – 1:00 pm EST Emine Kocabas, Ashley Berger, & Vishma Sookdeo will be speaking about “Beyond Inclusion: Co-Designing with Lived Experience to Build Meaningful Partnerships in Stroke Research”.

ALS Canada: Driving & ALS Webinar
2025-08-13 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Edmonton)
Join ALS Canada and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to learn about the impact of ALS on driving ability, adaptive driving equipment, how an ALS diagnosis may affect insurance, and available alternative options.

PxP Africa 2025: Virtual Meeting August 13, 2025 From Research Participants to Patient Partners in Research: Centering African Patients Voices
2025-08-13 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Edmonton)
PxP Africa is the first regional PxP meeting, led by Joab Wako and Kwanele Asante who are members of the 2025 steering committee for the global PxP conference taking place in September. PxP Africa will spotlight the critical role of patient partners—especially African patients—as active contributors in research, not just research participants. The session will challenge the traditional top-down model of research and explore how lived experience can inform, shape, and lead meaningful, inclusive studies.

PxP Australia 2025
2025-08-19 08:00 - 09:00 (America/Edmonton)
PxP Australia is a regional webinar, led by Letisha Living and Janelle Bowden who are members of the 2025 steering committee for the global PxP conference taking place in September. The theme of PxP Australia is “working well together” and Dr. Joan Carlini will be joining the session as a speaker.

Genome Editing in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
2025-08-19 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Edmonton)
CRISPR-based genome editing has revolutionized biomedical research, offering powerful tools to investigate gene function, model diseases, and develop novel therapies. This focused workshop will provide participants with both theoretical grounding and practical insights into current genome editing technologies.
The Stem Cell Network (SCN) is pleased to offer the online workshop “Genome Editing in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine”. This workshop will equip participants with both a theoretical grounding and practical insights into current genome editing technologies. It will also explore key concepts in experimental design, delivery, and selection methods.

Webinar: Patient Partnership 2025 – The Lupus100 Project
2025-08-27 00:00 (America/Edmonton)
Co-developed by ERN ReCONNET and LUPUS EUROPE, The Lupus100 Project is a multilingual resource based on real patient questions about lupus, turning a national patient booklet into a Europe-wide, medically validated information tool. Speakers Eric Hachulla (clinician, ERN ReCONNET), Jeanette Andersen (patient representative, ERN ReCONNET), and Zoe Karakikla-Mitsakou (General Secretary, Lupus Europe) will share how meaningful collaboration between patients and clinicians shaped this impactful communication initiative!

WHA Resolution Coalition Webinar: Turning the WHA Resolution on Rare Diseases into Action
2025-08-28 06:00 - 07:30 (America/Edmonton)
This Coalition webinar will further discuss the formalization of the Coalition as well as the updates and next steps in the implementation of the WHA Resolution on Rare Diseases and the development of the Global Action Plan.

Back-to-School with PH: Q&A Session
2025-09-04 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Edmonton)
Getting ready for a new school year can be exciting—but also challenging when pulmonary hypertension (PH) is part of the picture.
Join in on Thursday, Sept 4 at 11:00 AM EST for a virtual round table with Janette Reyes, PH Pediatric Nurse at SickKids Hospital.

IMPaCT Webinar: Lessons Learned from the Innovative Pediatric Clinical Trials (iPCT) Network
2025-09-10 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Edmonton)
Speakers: Tannis Erickson & Naveen Poonai Title: Lessons Learned from the Innovative Pediatric Clinical Trials (iPCT) Network
