Newswise — 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.
About the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA)
The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association is dedicated to the eradication of autoimmune diseases and the alleviation of suffering and the socioeconomic impact of autoimmunity through fostering and facilitating collaboration in the areas of education, public awareness, research, and patient services in an effective, ethical and efficient manner.
AARDA is the only national nonprofit health agency dedicated to bringing a national focus to autoimmunity, the major cause of serious chronic diseases.
Approximately 50 million Americans, 20 percent of the population or one in five people, suffer from autoimmune diseases. Women are more likely than men to be affected; some estimates say that 75 percent of those affected--some 37.5 million people--are women. Still, with these statistics, autoimmunity is rarely discussed as a women's health issue.
For more information on autoimmunity and/or AARDA, contact AARDA by phone at (586) 776-3900 or on the Web at www.aarda.org.
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