2024: A Landmark Year For Lupus
A Year of Impact, Advocacy, and Progress
A Message from Leanne Mielczarek, Lupus Canada’s Executive Director
“On behalf of the Board and Staff I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generosity and unwavering support. Your belief in our mission has made a profound difference in the lives of countless individuals. Thanks to you, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring equitable access to care and treatment for all Canadians, funding groundbreaking Canadian-led research, providing essential resources to those impacted by lupus, advocating at the Federal level, and raising awareness about this often-misunderstood disease.
This year, we are excited to continue building on our progress and achieving new milestones together in the lupus space. Your support is not just appreciated—it is integral to the success of our mission and the hope we bring to so many.
Wishing you and your loved ones a New Year filled with joy, health, and happiness. Here’s to another year of meaningful impact and shared success!”
Highlights of Our Year:
Prefer a quick visual summary? Download our infographic to see all the milestones at a glance.
Click on each section below to learn more about our Advocacy, Scholarship Program, Support, Research, Public Awareness, and Collaborations.
Advocacy
- Advocated for 2 biologics (Saphnelo for SLE, Benlysta for Lupus Nephritis) to be approved for public listing, bringing new hope to countless individuals living with lupus.
- Engaged with Members of Parliament to advocate for improved policies, equitable access to care and treatment, and dedicated funding for lupus specific research.
- Held a National Survey to better understand the treatment journey of adults with lupus and address unmet needs.
- Provided patient input and perspectives to support new treatment submissions to CADTH to improve medication accessibility in Canada.
Scholarship Program
- Expanded the scholarship program to offer ten $2,500 CAD scholarships, enabling greater support for students living with lupus, thanks to the support from the William Birchall Foundation.
Support
- Hosted webinars and community forums to inform and educate patients and caregivers and create safe spaces for sharing experiences, learning, and empowering each other in the lupus journey.
- Revamped the website’s design and functionality to create a user-friendly, bilingual platform featuring a robust resource hub with up-to-date and relevant information on lupus for patients, caregivers and Health Care Providers.
Research
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Committed $100k to support vital lupus research.
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Engaged with leading researchers and explored cutting-edge research and innovations in bone and joint health, fostering hope for advancements in lupus care.
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Committed to 3-year support of the establishment of the Dr. Murray B. Urowitz Chair.
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Lupus Canada was awarded the Upper Canada Medal in appreciation of its contributions to lupus research.
Public Awareness
- 65 landmarks lit in purple on May 10th (World Lupus Day).
- 8 provinces and 2 municipalities declared May 10th (World Lupus Day).
- Created content in French tailored for Quebec audiences to improve accessibility.
- Created Informational Cards and posters for patients in clinics.
- Launched 1,000 Laps for Lupus and Run for Lupus to connect communities and raise funds.
Collaborations
- Joined Research Canada, strengthening Lupus Canada’s dedication to advancing research, advocacy, and education.
- Member of the Canadian Immunocompromised Advocacy Network (CIAN) to better advocate for the needs of immunocompromised individuals.
- Member of a Pan-Canadian working group, comprised of lupus specialists and patient groups, aiming to address disparities in lupus treatment and support.