AARDA Blog

 AARDA's "What Every American Needs to Know About Autoimmune Disease" Public Forums have been traveling the country for more than three years now.  Patients rave about the the level of information and resources that are made available to them through this wonderful program.  Now patients everywhere can benefit from this important program by purchasing a copy of the DVD.  The DVD contains two of the most important segments from the live forums, "What is Autoimmunity?"  with world renowned scientist Dr. Noel R. Rose, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Center for Autoimmune Disease Research at Johns Hopkins University.  Dr. Rose explores the scientific process of autoimmunity in a way every patient can understand, the risk factors, incidence trends, and the latest research. Additionally, author, Rita Baron-Faust, "The Autoimmune Connection", who provides a segment on "Women and Autoimmunity".

Don't miss this opportunity.  Purchase your DVD copy today!

From Left to Right: Dr. Torsten Matthias, President of AESKU.Diagnostics, and 2008 AESKU.Award winner, M. Eric Gershwin, M.D., of the University of California-Davis, and 2010 AESKU.Award winner Virginia T. Ladd, President and Executive Director, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association

Press Release:

East Detroit, MI  June 23, 2010:  In the history of the AESKU.AWARD for Life Contribution to Autoimmunity, the coveted prize had never been granted to a non-scientist until May 5, 2010.  On that day, Virginia T. Ladd, president and executive director of the Michigan-based American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), was given the AESKU.AWARD in honor of her lifetime commitment, dedication, and determination that has helped to bring about major changes for autoimmunity and autoimmune disease research internationally.  The award was presented to Mrs. Ladd by Dr. Torsten Matthias, president of AESKU.Diagnostics, and 2008 AESKU.AWARD winner M. Eric Gershwin, M.D., of the University of California Davis, at the 7th International Congress on Autoimmunity, held in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Mrs. Ladd, in accepting the recognition, joins previous AESKU winners from Austria, Israel, Australia, the United States, and other countries, all renowned researchers, including internationally known autoimmune disease authority, researcher and author Noel R. Rose, M.D., Ph.D., of the Johns Hopkins University.

Between 1991 and 2010, Mrs. Ladd has led AARDA as it has organized cutting edge scientific meetings and established the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups (NCAPG), an expansive group of 31 national autoimmune disease-specific groups who use their collective influence to advance autoimmune disease patient advocacy and awareness.  Additionally, Mrs. Ladd fought and won to have autoimmune disease recognized as a category of disease.  This new category includes more than 100 diseases which share a common cause, autoimmunity.

In 2002, AARDA was instrumental in obtaining $30 million in additional funding for autoimmune disease research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Today, under Mrs. Ladd’s leadership,  AARDA is an internationally recognized authority on autoimmune disease related issues.  The group continues to advance awareness with national awareness campaigns and patient education programs and services, as well as to fund research and foster collaboration around the United States and the globe.  Her work has always been aimed toward a singular purpose: to increase the quality of life for the 50 million Americans who live with autoimmune disease.

Mrs. Ladd says, "As a lay person and an autoimmune disease patient, I feel very proud to have received the award when it always has been given to scientific researchers in the past.  Many people have helped with AARDA's success.  We at AARDA think and act as a team, and that goes a long way in accomplishing our goals."

For more information on Virginia T. Ladd, AARDA, and autoimmune disease, please visit the organization’s Web site at www.aarda.org or by phone: 586-776-3900.

AARDA is a proud sponsor of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Autoimmune Disease Research's Annual Autoimmunity Day.  The program brings together researchers from a broad range of backgrounds to present the latest in research pertaining to autoimmunity.  This year's program took place on June 4, 2010 at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD. The program headlined top researchers from around the country. 

Some of the areas of research presented included:

• Sex and B Cells


• Temporal and spatial control of V(D)J recomination in health and disease


• IL-17 is a key player in development of dilated cardiomyapathy


• Does loss of tolerance to autoantigens contribute to primate heart allograft injury?


• Genetics of human autoimmunity: connecting genotype to phenotype


• The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease uncovered by genetics: focus on innate immunity and immune dysregulation


• High-dose cyclophosphamide therapy for autoimmunity and alloimmunity


• Regulation of Antigen-Receptor Signaling to NF-kB

The program was video taped and will soon be available on the AARDA.org website for viewing.  For a snapshot of the program, check out this video of NIAMS Director, Dr. Stephen Katz from the 10th Annual Autoimmunity Day program, discussing CD8 T Cell Mediated Models of Autoimmunity. 

http://autoimmune.pathology.jhmi.edu/katz.html

For more videos of presentations from past Autoimmunity Day events, visit the Johns Hopkins Center for Autoimmune Disease Research event website: http://autoimmune.pathology.jhmi.edu/events.cfm

In addition to Autoimmunity Day, AARDA also partners with Johns Hopkins University on sponsoring a number of students each summer for the Johns Hopkins Diversity Research Fellows program.  Through our sponsorship we hope to bring young and bright new researchers into the field of autoimmunity research.  Attending the 12th Annual Autoimmunity Day program were several of our research fellows, pictured below with Center for Autoimmune Disease Research at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Noel R. Rose, and AARDA President and Executive Director, Virginia T. Ladd. 

From left to right: Lourdes Ramirez, Dr. Noel R. Rose, Yolanda Ross, Sophia Uddin

From Left to Right: AARDA President Virginia T. Ladd, Center Director Dr. Noel R. Rose, and Yolanda Ross

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Register Today by Email (aarda@aarda.org) or Phone (586-776-3900).

Cost: FREE Conference

Who Should Attend: Conference is open to autoimmune patients, their families and the general public.

Location: Crowne Plaza Boston Newton

      320 Washington Street

Newton, MA  02458

Program Agenda:

12:30 p.m. Registration and Exhibits

1:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Welcome - Virginia T. Ladd, President and Executive Director, AARDA

1:15 p.m. -2:00 p.m. What is Autoimmunity? Noel R. Rose, M.D., Ph.D., - Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, Baltimore, MD

2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Autoimmune Diseases in Women, Rita Baron-Faust, M.P.H., CHES - Author of "The Autoimmune Connection"

2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Break

2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Coping With an Autoimmune Disease - Patient to Patient, Virginia T. Ladd

3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. What's New in Autoimmune Disease Research? - Noel R. Rose, M.D., Ph.D.

3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ask the Speaker