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Greetings! |
Discovering New Avenues for Hope. This weekend marks the annual meeting of the Scleroderma Foundation's
Peer-Review Committee. This committee, comprised of some of the world's leading experts on scleroderma, helps determine which proposals will be funded each year by reading, critiquing, and ranking all applications.
Research is a vital part of the three-fold mission of the Scleroderma Foundation. What makes the Scleroderma Foundation both unique and progressive has much to do with its commitment to scleroderma research. Funding quality research projects is a top priority of the Foundation, and we continue the long-standing tradition of making research our single-largest budgetary expense each year. An average of $1 million dollars is awarded in research grants annually.
Inherent in each Scleroderma Foundation research grant is the hope that our funds will make a significant difference to a researcher whose investigation may lead to finding the cause -- and ultimately a cure.
The Scleroderma Foundation and its predecessor organizations have funded over $18 million in research grants since 1989.
Read about the 2011 grant recipients and their proposals in the next issue of the Foundation's Voice magazine coming out in February 2011! (To receive the magazine, please become a member or renew your membership by clicking here!) |
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Genome-Wide Association Study in Systemic Sclerosis - A Report |
The Scleroderma Family Registry and DNA Repository (Registry) was initially developed as a registry and bio-specimen repository of patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), family members and unaffected normal controls. A case-control design was later adopted due to the lack of availability of many parents in this adult-onset disease, which precluded a linkage approach. In addition to collecting demographic data, the registry included the collection of disease-pertinent, cross-sectional, clinical information from medical records of affected participants. Registry participants were ≥18 years of age at enrollment. For more information on the study report from the database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP), please click here.
For additional information on the Scleroderma Family Registry and DNA Repository, please click here.
Pictured above is Dr. Maureen Mayes, a member of the Scleroderma Foundation's Medical Advisory Board and head of the Scleroderma Family Registry and DNA Repository |
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Scleroderma Foundation's Michigan Chapter Furthers Their Chances in Pepsi Refresh Project! |
What's the Pepsi Refresh Project?
Pepsi is funding amazing ideas that refresh the world. "Dream it, submit it, get enough votes and we'll help make it happen for your community!"
The Scleroderma Foundation's Michigan Chapter has advanced to the second round in the Pepsi Refresh Project in the $50,000 category!
Their Pepsi Refresh Project idea "Create an awareness campaign for scleroderma in the state of Michigan" is up for voting on Refresheverything.com.
This is the final month for voting, so please take a moment to support their idea and further their chances to win $50,000 to raise awareness of scleroderma in Michigan! |
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Surviving Yourself: Women and Autoimmune Disease |
 Debilitating. Destructive. Life-altering. These are just a few words that have been used to describe autoimmune disease.
Autoimmune diseases affect women 8 times more often than men, with lupus being one of the most disruptive. Lupus is a disease that occurs when a person's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs instead of attacking foreign invaders such as common viruses and bacteria. Lupus often results in wide-spread inflammation, pain, swelling and organ/tissue damage throughout the body. Read more from medical writer Jennifer Wider, M.D at Society for Womens Health Research. |
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Slow-to-Heal Wounds Linked to Autoimmune Diseases |
 Nearly 6.5 million Americans have wounds that take months or even years to heal. Many of these wounds are a consequence of diabetes, which damages blood vessels and interferes with normal skin repair. But new research from Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., points to another cause: autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, and lupus. |
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New Foundation Logo Items Available
Just in Time for the Holidays |
The Scleroderma Foundation is excited to announce new items for sale, just in time for the holidays. Purchase special items with the Foundation logo for yourself or a friend, and show your support for someone living with scleroderma.
Scleroderma Foundation Hooded Sweatshirt
This heavy gray sweatshirt features the Scleroderma Foundation logo on the upper left chest area. It has a full zip-up front, hood and two pockets to keep you warm while at work or play. Made of a cotton/polyester blend. Get one of these great wearables today for yourself or a friend!
Snuggies (fleece-style blanket with sleeves)
Each Snuggie comes with a free book light, and $1 from each purchase goes toward the Conference Scholarship Fund.
Fleece scarves (white)
Holiday greeting cards
These folded cards feature artwork by 10-year-old Ansley Lesley. Ansley is a scleroderma patient from South Carolina. Inside message reads "Seasons Greetings."
Learn more about our holiday greeting card contest.
To order these great products just in time for your holiday gift giving, visit our website or call us at (800) 722-HOPE (4673).
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2011 National Gold Sponsor
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2011 National
Silver Sponsor | 
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