Lanre Tunji-Ajayi, MSM, is a respected leader and global patient advocate for sickle cell disease (SCD) and other inherited blood disorders. With decades of experience in patient engagement, organizational governance, and program development, she has played a key role in strengthening both local and global efforts to improve the quality of life for individuals living with these conditions.
She is the co-founder of the Global Alliance of Sickle Cell Disease Organizations (GASCDO) and the Global Action Network for Sickle Cell & Other Inherited Blood Disorders (GANSID), leading international collaboration and advocacy. In Canada, she founded the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO) and served as the co-founder, founding president, and CEO of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Canada (SCDAC). Lanre’s leadership and advocacy have significantly increased the visibility and recognition of SCD in Canada.
Her passion for advocacy is deeply personal, stemming from the loss of her brother, Sunday Afolabi, to preventable and treatable complications of SCD. Lanre is dedicated to addressing disparities in care while promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within the Canadian healthcare system. To support these efforts, she was instrumental in establishing both the Ontario Hemoglobinopathy Patient Association (OHPA) and the Racialized Health Initiative Working Group (RHIWP). Additionally, she has co-authored research on hemoglobinopathies.
