The 2026 Can-SOLVE CKD Annual Meeting brought together patients, researchers, clinicians, and partners from across Canada for four days of learning, connection, and collaboration in Québec City.
As Can-SOLVE CKD celebrated its 10th anniversary, this year’s gathering offered an opportunity to reflect on a decade of learning, leadership, and change while looking ahead to the network’s next phase of work. From research symposiums and patient council sessions to the annual meeting itself, the energy throughout the week reflected a network continuing to grow stronger through patient partnership and collaboration.
The theme of this year’s gathering — Patient Partnership in Action: 10 Years of Learning, Leadership, and Change — was brought to life through co-presentations, cross-network learning, and stories of research being translated into meaningful change for people living with kidney disease.
Held on the ancestral territories of the Wendat, Innu, and Abenaki peoples, the meeting reflected the strength of collaboration across the Can-SOLVE CKD Network.
Explore presentation slides, stories, photos, and highlights from the week below.
Opening Reflections: 10 Years of Patient Partnership in Action
To mark the 10th anniversary of Can-SOLVE CKD, patient partners, researchers, collaborators, and network champions reflected on the relationships, achievements, and impact that have shaped the network over the past decade.
Featuring reflections from former Can-SOLVE CKD Co-PI Dr. Braden Manns, former Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD) Dr. Norman Rosenblum, patient partners Cathy Woods and Kate Chong, National Director of Research at The Kidney Foundation of Canada Leanne Stalker, and Canadian Society of Nephrology President Dr. Rita Suri, the video celebrates 10 years of learning, leadership, and change through patient-oriented research.
Premiered at the opening of the 2026 Can-SOLVE CKD Annual Meeting in Québec City, the video highlights the voices and experiences that have helped shape the network over the past decade.
Reflections from CIHR
As part of the opening remarks for the 2026 Can-SOLVE CKD Annual Meeting, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) reflected on the impact of patient-oriented research and the evolution of patient partnership through Canada’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR).
“Since the beginning of SPOR, we have seen patients move from participating in research to actually leading it. Through Can-SOLVE CKD, patient partners are sitting at governance tables, shaping priorities, and co-designing solutions and tools that help people make informed decisions about their care.
This important culture change has normalized the idea that patients are partners in research, and that lived experience is expertise.”
Megan Bettle
Director General, Priority Initiatives – Strategy and Management
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Annual Meeting Highlights
Explore stories, reflections, and key moments from the 2026 Can-SOLVE CKD Annual Meetings.
Joint Symposium explores disaster preparedness in kidney care
Featuring patient perspectives and expert discussion, a joint symposium co-hosted by Can-SOLVE CKD, CANA, and CSN explored how kidney programs can better prepare for emergencies while supporting continuity of care for people living with kidney disease.
CNTN annual research symposium highlights progress and future directions
The Canadian Nephrology Trials Network (CNTN) welcomed researchers, clinicians, trainees, and patient partners from across Canada to its annual research symposium, held May 6 during the CSN AGM pre-course in Québec City. Participants shared updates in kidney clinical trials and explored future collaboration across the network.
Can-SOLVE CKD is proud to support CNTN.
2026 Can-SOLVE CKD award recipients announced
Congratulations to Dr. Allison Dart, recipient of the Howard Vincent Reconciliation Award, and Sue McKenzie, recipient of the Barbara Ann LeGay Award for Patient-Oriented Research. The recipients were announced and celebrated during the welcome reception at the 2026 Can-SOLVE CKD Annual Meeting.
What we’ve built together
To celebrate Can-SOLVE CKD’s 10th anniversary, attendees were invited to reflect on the impact of patient-oriented research and the milestones achieved across the network over the past decade.
This poster highlights 10 examples of how patients, researchers, clinicians, and partners have worked together to improve kidney care, research, and patient outcomes across Canada. Participants also shared some of the moments, experiences, and connections that have stood out most to them throughout their journey with Can-SOLVE CKD.
Photo Gallery
Explore moments from across our time together in Québec City, including poster sessions at the CSN AGM, Patient Council gatherings, the social event, and the 2026 Can-SOLVE CKD Annual Meeting.
Check out moments from the past 10 years!
Can-SOLVE CKD Inception Workshop | Halifax | 2015
Patient partners presenting | 2019
Patient partner presenting | Vancouver | 2025
STOP-Med HD project team | Toronto | 2025
Can-SOLVE CKD Annual Meeting | Halifax | 2023
Patient Council | Montréal | 2019
Kidney March | Calgary | 2019
Manitoba Kidney Check team | Winnipeg | 2024
Patient Council | Halifax | 2016
Help us celebrate 10 years of Can-SOLVE CKD
Have photos or memories from your time with the Can-SOLVE CKD Network? We’d love to continue celebrating the people, partnerships, and moments that have shaped the network over the past decade.
If you would like to share photos from events, research activities, or your experience with the network, please email them to amanda.green@ubc.ca. If possible, include the approximate date, location or event, and names of individuals in the photo.
We also welcome short reflections about what Can-SOLVE CKD has meant to you or your work.
