AARDA is continuing to come to terms with the electronic age as we are expanding our areas of social networking opportunities. I myself as Executive Director have learned to tweet, and this has been a learning experience! Feel free to follow my latest research tweet (vladd_aarda).
AARDA has a Facebook "like" page, an online patient forum, a blog, and a twitter account. This electronic messaging was especially important as we sought to gather votes for a spot in the strategic planning process of the NIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
We are very pleased with our new basic educational module on autoimmunity program on our Web site. We plan on adding modules to cover rheumatic autoimmune diseases, vasculitis, neurological diseases, and others.
Another way to stay connected with AARDA is to sign up for our e-mail on our Web site. You'll be contacted when such things as advocacy issues and research updates are posted. And if you haven't visited our Web site lately, check us out. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
In other areas, we continue to fund grants for the Summer Diversity Internship program at Johns Hopkins University (five students for 2011); and one of the former students, with AARDA's funding, is doing autoimmune research under Dr. Noel Rose, at Johns Hopkins, this summer. We are pleased that we can encourage new young investigators in the field of autoimmunity.
As the only national organization supporting basic autoimmune disease research that will impact all of the autoimmune diseases, AARDA continues to enhance its research program. This is the second year that AARDA is sponsoring the $50,000 O'Leary-Wilson Autoimmune Disease Fellowship in basic autoimmune disease research through the generosity of an anonymous donor.
AARDA has funded well over $2 million in support of autoimmune research, and we intend to grow this very important area. Generous donors fund all of AARDA's programs, including the crucial research area. If not AARDA, who?
As you will see in the "Event" list, AARDA's free public forums continue. Since they are scattered around the United States, you may want to try to spot one near you. Our most recent one, held at the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, drew approximately 200 autoimmune patients, their family members, and other guests. Now we are looking forward to seeing AARDA members and others in Denver, Colorado, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Since last reporting to you, I had the honor of speaking about autoimmune diseases at the 25th anniversary celebration for the Office of Research on Women's Health. It's always very rewarding to represent AARDA and the autoimmune picture at such significant events.
With summer in full swing, we're racing to finish projects before the autumn scheduling hits. Busy is good! And gains--such as the NIEHS voice--are even better. Thank you for all of your interest and support. You keep AARDA moving.
Best wishes to you,
Virginia
