World of Lupus Research Expands as Florida Joins the Lupus Research Institute's National Coalition
Addition of State of Florida on World Lupus Day 2010 Pumps Extra Strength into Patient’s Voice for Lupus Research
New York, NY, May 11, 2010 --(PR.com)-- On World Lupus Day 2010, the Lupus Research Institute (LRI) proudly welcomes the Lupus Foundation of Florida to its National Coalition of state and local lupus organizations united to cure lupus.
“Our National Coalition covers both coasts and the nation’s major urban centers,” said LRI President Margaret G. Dowd. “This addition of the bulk of the state of Florida and the estimated 90,000 people with lupus that live in the state—gives added might to our already powerful ‘patients’ voice for research to cure a disease that affects more than 1.5 million Americans. We warmly welcome them into the fold as LRI marks a decade a of pioneering discovery in lupus.”
“We’ve been following the LRI National Coalition for a long time,” said Maggi McQueen, chairman of the board of the Lupus Foundation of Florida, Inc. “and are now ecstatic to be a part of it—in large part because of the cutting-edge research that the organization funds. And we’re also very excited about the National Coalition’s grants to physician and patient education.”
Begun in 1979, the Florida foundation provides services, education, advocacy, physician referral, continuing education and more for a 47-county area—all but the state’s panhandle represented by the Lupus Support Network (also an LRI National Coalition member) and a handful of counties in the state’s southern tip.
The Florida foundation has also funded research nationally and at the University of Florida Center for Autoimmune Disease in Gainesville, where it has supported $56,000 in lupus work headed by Westley Reeves, MD—one of three Gainesville researchers who have received LRI Novel Research Grants for innovative work in lupus.
“It’s fitting that we grow stronger on such an important day for all people with lupus,” said Dowd, on World Lupus Day. Now the world’s leading private supporter of innovative lupus research, the Lupus Research Institute and its National Coalition bring hope to the estimated 5 million people worldwide with the disease. Visitors from around the globe regularly log on to LupusResearchInstitute.org for updates on progress towards a cure.
Since its creation in 2004, the LRI National Coalition has achieved solid results in championing awareness, education, and action on lupus on Capitol Hill, catalyzing involvement in clinical trials through LupusTrials.org, and fighting to eliminate racial disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of lupus.
Read more about the LRI National Coalition achievements at http://lupusresearchinstitute.org/advocacy/national_coalition.
More about the Lupus Foundation of Florida is at http://lupusflorida.org.
About Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (S.L.E.), commonly called lupus, is a chronic and potentially fatal autoimmune disorder and one of the nation’s least recognized major diseases. In lupus, the body's immune system forms antibodies that can attack virtually any healthy organ or tissue, from the kidneys to the brain, heart, lungs, skin, joints and blood. Lupus is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and stroke among young women. No new treatments for lupus have been approved in 50 years.
About the Lupus Research Institute
Pioneering discovery to prevent, treat, and cure lupus.
The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) is the world’s leading private supporter of innovative research in lupus. The LRI champions scientific creativity and risk-taking in the hunt for solutions to this complex and dangerous autoimmune disease. Founded by families and shaped by scientists, the LRI mandates sound science and rigorous peer review to uncover and support only the highest-ranked novel research. It is the only lupus organization to receive an A+ rating by the American Institute of Philanthropy, directly channeling 94 cents of every dollar donated right back to the programs supporting brilliant and determined lupus researchers. The LRI’s bold and proven research strategy consistently achieves the insights, breakthroughs, and solid results that are changing the course of lupus research and bringing new hope to people with lupus nationwide and around the world.
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“Our National Coalition covers both coasts and the nation’s major urban centers,” said LRI President Margaret G. Dowd. “This addition of the bulk of the state of Florida and the estimated 90,000 people with lupus that live in the state—gives added might to our already powerful ‘patients’ voice for research to cure a disease that affects more than 1.5 million Americans. We warmly welcome them into the fold as LRI marks a decade a of pioneering discovery in lupus.”
“We’ve been following the LRI National Coalition for a long time,” said Maggi McQueen, chairman of the board of the Lupus Foundation of Florida, Inc. “and are now ecstatic to be a part of it—in large part because of the cutting-edge research that the organization funds. And we’re also very excited about the National Coalition’s grants to physician and patient education.”
Begun in 1979, the Florida foundation provides services, education, advocacy, physician referral, continuing education and more for a 47-county area—all but the state’s panhandle represented by the Lupus Support Network (also an LRI National Coalition member) and a handful of counties in the state’s southern tip.
The Florida foundation has also funded research nationally and at the University of Florida Center for Autoimmune Disease in Gainesville, where it has supported $56,000 in lupus work headed by Westley Reeves, MD—one of three Gainesville researchers who have received LRI Novel Research Grants for innovative work in lupus.
“It’s fitting that we grow stronger on such an important day for all people with lupus,” said Dowd, on World Lupus Day. Now the world’s leading private supporter of innovative lupus research, the Lupus Research Institute and its National Coalition bring hope to the estimated 5 million people worldwide with the disease. Visitors from around the globe regularly log on to LupusResearchInstitute.org for updates on progress towards a cure.
Since its creation in 2004, the LRI National Coalition has achieved solid results in championing awareness, education, and action on lupus on Capitol Hill, catalyzing involvement in clinical trials through LupusTrials.org, and fighting to eliminate racial disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of lupus.
Read more about the LRI National Coalition achievements at http://lupusresearchinstitute.org/advocacy/national_coalition.
More about the Lupus Foundation of Florida is at http://lupusflorida.org.
About Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (S.L.E.), commonly called lupus, is a chronic and potentially fatal autoimmune disorder and one of the nation’s least recognized major diseases. In lupus, the body's immune system forms antibodies that can attack virtually any healthy organ or tissue, from the kidneys to the brain, heart, lungs, skin, joints and blood. Lupus is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and stroke among young women. No new treatments for lupus have been approved in 50 years.
About the Lupus Research Institute
Pioneering discovery to prevent, treat, and cure lupus.
The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) is the world’s leading private supporter of innovative research in lupus. The LRI champions scientific creativity and risk-taking in the hunt for solutions to this complex and dangerous autoimmune disease. Founded by families and shaped by scientists, the LRI mandates sound science and rigorous peer review to uncover and support only the highest-ranked novel research. It is the only lupus organization to receive an A+ rating by the American Institute of Philanthropy, directly channeling 94 cents of every dollar donated right back to the programs supporting brilliant and determined lupus researchers. The LRI’s bold and proven research strategy consistently achieves the insights, breakthroughs, and solid results that are changing the course of lupus research and bringing new hope to people with lupus nationwide and around the world.
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Contact
Lupus Research Institute
Liane Stegmaier
212-812-9881
www.LupusResearchInstitute.org
Liane Stegmaier
212-812-9881
www.LupusResearchInstitute.org
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