Newswise — DETROIT, July 27, 2016 – American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) announced today its July Autoimmune Heroes – Vice President of the United States Joseph R. Biden, Jr., retired U.S. Congressman Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) and the National Institutes of Health’s Autoimmune Disease Coordinating Committee (NIH ADCC).
Specifically, AARDA honors Vice President Biden and Congressman Waxman for:
● their strong leadership in spearheading the Children’s Health Act of 2000 legislation that resulted in the creation of a permanent Autoimmune Disease Coordinating Committee within the Director’s Office of the National Institutes of Health.
● their commitment to autoimmune disease and understanding how critical it was at that time for autoimmunity to be recognized as a major disease category and one that demanded significant research attention.
In addition, AARDA salutes the National Institutes of Health’s Autoimmune Disease Coordinating Committee and all its members for:
● its 16+ years of leadership on autoimmune disease research, with special thanks to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who chairs the committee, facilitating coordination amongst all NIH Institutes, federal agencies, professional societies and patient and advocacy groups with an interest in autoimmune disease.
● preparing and later updating the first-ever autoimmune disease research plan, charting a course for future research to determine causes of the diseases (etiology); address the frequency and national history of the diseases, including by gender and race (epidemiology); develop and evaluate new treatments; and, provide educational programming for both health care professionals and the public.
Part of its yearlong 25th anniversary celebration, AARDA’s #AutoimmuneHeroes campaign recognizes the work of individuals and organizations that have advanced the autoimmune disease agenda in the areas of research, patient safety, advocacy, public education and awareness, service and volunteerism, among others.
”The creation of the NIH Autoimmune Disease Coordinating Committee in 2000 marked a significant turning point in autoimmunity being recognized as both a major disease category and a sorely underfunded research area. All these years, AARDA has enjoyed a close, productive working relationship with the ADCC and looks forward to many more. We also are forever grateful to Vice President Biden and Congressman Waxman for working so diligently to get the legislation introduced and passed,” said Virginia Ladd, founder and executive director, AARDA (@AARDATweets). “This particular moment in autoimmune disease history was truly a game-changer for the 50 million Americans with autoimmune disease and their families in terms of better diagnostic tools and treatments, and hopefully, ultimately, one day prevention.”
Each month during its anniversary year, AARDA will be announcing its #AutoimmuneHeroes. Over the last 25 years, these heroes – both individuals and organizations – have proved critical to helping AARDA become the national organization it is today, while positively impacting the lives of the 50 million Americans with AD and their families.
In addition, AARDA also launched this year its #25for25 fundraising campaign. It invites individuals and organizations the world over to recognize AARDA’s achievements on behalf of people with autoimmune disease and support its work going forward by donating $25 to the organization (www.aarda.org).
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 promoting a collaborative research effort in order to find better treatments and a cure for all autoimmune diseases. For more information, please visit www.aarda.org.
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PROFILES – July 2016 Autoimmune Hero
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association Salutes Autoimmune Heroes
Vice President Joseph R. Biden and retired Congressman Henry A. Waxman for their…
● strong leadership in spearheading the Children’s Health Act of 2000 legislation that resulted in the creation of a permanent Autoimmune Disease Coordinating Committee within the Director’s Office of the National Institutes of Health.
● commitment to autoimmune disease and understanding how critical it was at that time for autoimmunity to be recognized as a major disease category and one that demanded significant research attention.
PROFILES – July 2016 Autoimmune Hero
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association Salutes National Institutes of Health’s Autoimmune Disease Coordinating Committee for…
● its 16+ years of leadership on autoimmune disease research, with special thanks to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who chairs the committee, facilitating coordination amongst all NIH Institutes, federal agencies, professional societies and patient and advocacy groups with an interest in autoimmune disease.
● preparing and later updating the first-ever autoimmune disease research plan, charting a course for future research to determine causes of the diseases (etiology); address the frequency and national history of the diseases, including by gender and race (epidemiology); develop and evaluate new treatments; and, provide educational programming for both health care professionals and the public.
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