AARDA Founder and Executive Director Virginia T. Ladd Named2016 Research & Hope Award Recipient by PhRMA
Newswise — DETROIT, September 15, 2016 – American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) is proud to announce Virginia T. Ladd, its founder and executive director, has been honored by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) with the 2016 Research & Hope Award for Excellence in Advocacy and Activism at a gala dinner in Washington, D.C. earlier this week.
Recognizing Ladd’s more than 30 year commitment to the nonprofit community as a patient advocate and educator, PhRMA honored her, first, for the founding 25 years ago of AARDA, the nation’s only organization to bring a national focus to autoimmunity and increase collaboration in autoimmune research, education, awareness and advocacy. And, second, for the establishment and ongoing facilitation of the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups, an organization of 39 national autoimmune disease-specific groups.
Ladd was one of six patient advocates and researchers PhRMA cited for their tireless efforts to advance the treatment and care of patients with autoimmune diseases, a group of more than 100 diseases in which a person’s own immune system attacks the body’s healthy tissues and cells. “These awards celebrate the progress and promise of biopharmaceutical research and illustrate how our industry, and others in the health care ecosystem, work together to bring medical advances to patients,” said Dr. George A. Scangos, PhRMA chairman and Biogen chief executive officer. “The 2016 award recipients all play a critical role in working to ensure that the lives of patients and their caregivers may be improved as a result of breakthrough science and innovation.”
Other 2016 Research & Hope Award winners included:● John Medich, Ph.D., vice president, immunology clinical development, AbbVie● Mila Ferrer, community and social media manager, Hispanic market, Diabetes Hands Foundation● Lisa G. Rider, M.D., deputy chief, environmental autoimmunity group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health● Joan T. Merrill, M.D., chief advisor, clinical development, Lupus Foundation of America● Parker Lentini, patient and advocate
The 2016 Research & Hope Awards honorees were selected by the Scientific Advisory Board of the PhRMA Foundation following an open nominations process. Twenty-two health advocacy partners joined PhRMA in recognizing the honorees, including: AARDA, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, American Behcet’s Disease Association, American College of Rheumatology, American Lung Association, Arthritis Foundation, Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations, EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, GBS CIDP Foundation International, International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis, International Pemphigus Pemphigoid Foundation, Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Lupus Foundation of America, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, National Alopecia Areata Foundation, National Psoriasis Foundation, Relapsing Polychondritis Awareness and Support Foundation, Sjogren’s Syndrom Foundation, the Mastocytosis Society, the Myositis Association, U.S. Pain Foundation and Vasculitis Foundation.
About Autoimmune DiseasesThere are more than 100 known autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, Graves’ disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, Type 1 diabetes, relapsing polychondritis, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and lupus. The underlying cause of all of these diseases is autoimmunity which disproportionately affects women. Of the 50 million Americans living and coping with ADs, more than 75 percent are women. Given the genetic component, autoimmune diseases can run in families. AD is one of the top 10 leading causes of death of women under the age of 65 and is responsible for more than $100 billion in direct health care costs annually.
About American Autoimmune Related Diseases AssociationCelebrating its 25th anniversary, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) is the nation's only non-profit organization dedicated to bringing a national focus to autoimmunity as a category of disease and a major women's health issue, and for all autoimmune diseases. For more information, please visit http://www.aarda.org.
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