AlphaNet Canada

AlphaNet Canada AlphaNet Canada is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals in Canada affected by the genetic condition, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1).

We provide complimentary disease management services to individuals diagnosed with Alpha-1. Alpha-1 Canada advocates on behalf of Canadians affected by alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. We also inform and educate the medical community about alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; and generate broad awareness about this genetic liver, lung and skin disease.

Protect yourself and your family from preventable diseases by getting vaccinated. Talk to your doctor about which vaccin...
04/29/2026

Protect yourself and your family from preventable diseases by getting vaccinated. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines are right for you.

For vaccine recommendations, visit the Government of Canada’s immunization and vaccines page: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization-vaccines.html

For more Alpha-1 health information, visit bfrg.alphanet.org .

Join us tomorrow for a helpful session with OLHI, where they will explain their role as an independent ombuds service an...
04/27/2026

Join us tomorrow for a helpful session with OLHI, where they will explain their role as an independent ombuds service and how they help consumers with insurance complaints.

You’ll learn how to submit a complaint, what types of complaints can be reviewed, and what resources may be available to you. Don’t miss this chance to better understand your rights and feel more informed. Knowledge is power!

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/wNdw-oAXTlm_eaB9Id3Gxw

AlphaNet Canada’s Angela Diano was proud to present the Canadian journey towards access to augmentation therapy at this ...
04/24/2026

AlphaNet Canada’s Angela Diano was proud to present the Canadian journey towards access to augmentation therapy at this weekend’s 18th Annual Canadian Respiratory Conference. Many thanks to Dr. Mohit Bhutani, Dr. Brandie Walker, and Dr. Kenneth Chapman for contributing to the panel presentation, “Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: A Canadian Success Story.”

We are proud to ensure that alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is part of the conversations and at the table this week at th...
04/23/2026

We are proud to ensure that alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is part of the conversations and at the table this week at the annual CDA Symposium in Ottawa: Evidence, Engagement, and Systems.

This symposium brings together diverse voices across evidence generation, engagement, policy, patient communities, industry, and academia to explore how evidence, engagement, and systems intersect to improve health system delivery in Canada.

Special thanks to: Suzanne McGurn, President and CEO, CDA-AMC; Daniel MacDonald, Director General, Office of Pharmaceutical Management Strategies, Strategic Policy Branch, Health Canada; and, of course, Sudha Kutty, Peter Dyrda, Michelle Gibbens, and Matthew McDonald, CDA-AMC. Not to mention our patient partner organizations, Immunity Canada and NRBDO, for their leadership.

In the 1960s, newborns with unexplained severe liver problems were added to the list of potential Alpha-1 patients. The ...
04/22/2026

In the 1960s, newborns with unexplained severe liver problems were added to the list of potential Alpha-1 patients. The diagnostic delay between the onset of symptoms of lung and liver disease and the correct test for Alpha-1 being done still averages a seven year diagnostic delay, largely due to missed opportunities to consider a rare diagnosis beyond much more common causes of lung symptoms due to asthma or COPD.

To learn more, please visit bfrg.alphanet.org to access the Big Fat Reference Guide (BFRG).

AlphaNet Canada was excited to meet many Albertans at our Calgary meet-and-greet this past Saturday and to introduce our...
04/20/2026

AlphaNet Canada was excited to meet many Albertans at our Calgary meet-and-greet this past Saturday and to introduce our community members to one another in person. The next stop is Toronto on Saturday, April 25, 2026. If you are interested in meeting us and others from our Canadian patient community, please RSVP to infoca@alphanetcanada.ca.

AlphaNet Canada congratulates Dr. Paul Hernandez on receiving the 2026 CTS Honorary Lecture Award and for including AATD...
04/17/2026

AlphaNet Canada congratulates Dr. Paul Hernandez on receiving the 2026 CTS Honorary Lecture Award and for including AATD in his lecture, COPD Care: Past, Present and Future. Yesterday was an exciting day at the 2026 Canadian Respiratory Conference in Calgary, where attendees not only heard about AATD from Dr. Hernandez but also received an AATD history lesson from Dr. Marc Miravitlles of Vall D'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona. We remain grateful to our Canadian and international respiratory community for their commitment to collaboration among clinicians, researchers, and patient organizations to accelerate progress toward curative strategies.

During this session, OLHI will explain its role as an independent ombuds service and how it helps consumers with insuran...
04/13/2026

During this session, OLHI will explain its role as an independent ombuds service and how it helps consumers with insurance complaints. You’ll learn how to submit a complaint and what types of complaints can be reviewed. Don't miss this chance to understand your rights and available resources! Knowledge is power!

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/wNdw-oAXTlm_eaB9Id3Gxw

April in Canada marks the start of wildfire season, with elevated risk from early snowmelt, dry forests, and limited new...
04/10/2026

April in Canada marks the start of wildfire season, with elevated risk from early snowmelt, dry forests, and limited new vegetation. No region is immune to wildfire smoke, which can become severe depending on fire size and wind patterns. Exposure is linked to increased emergency visits for lung disease flare-ups, though its impact on Alpha-1 progression remains unclear.

Learn more in Environmental Risk Factors in the BFRG:
https://bfrg.alphanet.org/s/article/2-10-2-environmental-risk-factors

04/08/2026

Most people with COPD have never been tested to see if there is a genetic cause behind their condition.

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is one of the most common serious hereditary disorders in the world, but the diagnosis is frequently missed. Clinical guidelines recommend testing be done for all people diagnosed with COPD. In practice, that rarely happens.

Here is what healthcare professionals and patients should know:

- AATD reduces the lung's ability to protect itself from progressive damage

- Symptoms closely resemble standard COPD, making it easy to miss

- Early diagnosis opens the door to augmentation therapy and family screening

- A single blood test can identify whether AATD is the underlying cause

- First-degree relatives of someone with AATD should also be considered for testing

We have published a four-part educational series covering AATD from first diagnosis to family screening. Each article is written for both healthcare professionals and informed patients.

If you work with patients who have COPD, when was the last time AATD was part of the diagnostic conversation?

Learn more: https://chroniclungdiseases.com/en/alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency/

Canadian Public Health Week is a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are impo...
04/07/2026

Canadian Public Health Week is a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our health and well-being.

Happy Easter!
04/05/2026

Happy Easter!

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Toronto, ON

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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