Here in the United States, April is designated as National Minority Health Month, an annual observance that focuses on building awareness about health disparities that persist among racial and ethnic minority populations. The American Kidney Fund (AKF), in its effort to end these inequities, has officially designated the last Tuesday of every April as APOL1-mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day.

Earlier this month, I wrote about the exciting advancement of inaxaplin, a novel apolipoprotein L1 function inhibitor, into a phase 3 clinical trial for treatment of AMKD, a genetic condition that is more common in people of recent African descent. In the United States, an estimated 13% of Black Americans have two APOL1 genetic variations, 20% of whom will go on to develop kidney disease.

It’s one thing to read about AMKD, but in the end, it is important to listen to those affected by the condition. The American Kidney Fund has put together a fantastic community toolkit, including videos that capture patients’ voices. I encourage you to watch this short video, detailing a young woman’s journey with AMKD.

Let’s celebrate the last day of April by being #APOL1Aware and joining in on AMKD Awareness Day, today and for years to come.