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It was in April 2001 that some representatives of patient organisations met in Lyon during the bi annual international congress of the Global Life Sciences Forum.
Here in principle these patient representatives decided to start a collaboration and to explore the options for an International Alliance with a focus on genetics and biotechnology being potential tools for prevention and treatment of chronic and serious diseases. Moreover the need for accredited, high quality networks of clinical genetic services was expressed as these centres could answer the many questions from people feeling at risk and seeking advise.
Participants first meeting, Lyon, April 2001
A year later the group, in the meantime extended, met in Vienna in conjunction with the quadrennial meeting of the International Federation of Human Genetic Societies. At this occasion the group issued a statement giving education a high priority.
April 2003 representatives of patient alliances from all continents gathered again in Lyon in conjunction with the Global Life Sciences Forum. On 10 April 2003 the establishment of the International Alliance of Parent and Patient organisations involved in inherited diseases and acquired birth disorders (IGA) became a fact.
A press-release was issued containing the objectives, the plans and the founding organisations.
IGA wishes to pay tribute to the Biovision committee and to the King Baudouin Foundation for their support and wishes to acknowledge the great efforts made by the genetic alliances based in Washington, London, Soestdijk and Sydney to achieve these goals.
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