Get ready for AMKD Awareness Day on April 28, 2026
The countdown is on. The American Kidney Fund is leading a national call to action to raise much-needed awareness about APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD) and how your genes can impact your kidney health.
What is AMKD?
APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD) is a serious and rapidly progressive genetic kidney disease caused by changes (variants) in the APOL1 gene. If you’re Black, African American, African, Afro-Caribbean, or Latina/Latino and have West or Central African ancestry, you’re more likely to have inherited variants in that gene. And if you have variations in both copies of the gene, you’re at greater risk (1 in 5) of developing AMKD.
Be APOL1 aware
Being APOL1 aware means knowing how your genes impact your kidney health. Knowing whether you have the APOL1 variants that cause AMKD could keep your kidneys working longer. If you have kidney disease or if your family member does, consider asking about genetic testing.
Resources for Kidney Professionals
In addition to the genetic counseling guide available for your patients, AKF's webinar provides an overview of on APOL1-mediated kidney disease and implications for patient care and accompanying summary are available for health care professionals.
AMKD stories
AKF is working to collect personal AMKD stories to illustrate the patient journey and draw attention to this disease.
Advocacy Actions
Your help is needed to help advocate for the passage of the following bills pending in Congress:
AMKD Awareness Day supporters
We appreciate all of the organizations supporting awareness of APOL1-mediated kidney disease.
