MMRI awarded $200,000 by Lupus and Allied Diseases Association

On Thursday, August 14, 2024, officials from MMRI received a surprise announcement by LADA President and CEO, Kathleen Arntsen, that its three previously supported SLE research projects would receive an additional $50,000 each this year, and for one new project focused on lupus nephritis, which received an additional $50,000, totaling $200,000. The check was presented at LADA’s 24^th Lupus Charity Golf Classic, located at Shenendoah Golf Course at Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York.

MMRI scientists aim to understand how specific enzyme activities influence SLE progression, create new therapeutic agents for SLE and investigate the role of immune cell activity in causing venous thromboembolism.

“As a national patient-led organization, we have chosen to support the MMRI’s lupus research program because research is extremely important to us,” said Kathleen A. Arntsen, president & CEO, Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc. “We are honored to continue funding their pioneering lupus projects this year, which brings our overall grant total to MMRI to $615,000.”

The MMRI research funded by LADA is focused on preventing and treating SLE, a devastating autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack a person’s own tissue, causing inflammation in the skin, joints, blood, heart, lungs, brain and kidneys, and leads to extreme exhaustion, fevers, skin rashes, hair loss and anemia.

“We are deeply grateful to LADA for their commitment, partnership and support of our work, allowing us to push the boundaries of lupus research,” said Maria Kontaridis, Ph.D., executive director and Gordon K. Moe professor and chair of biomedical research and translational medicine at MMRI. “Every dollar invested brings us one step closer to understanding this complex disease, finding better treatments, and ultimately improving the lives of those affected by lupus. Their support is truly a beacon of hope for millions.”

In addition to its financial support, MMRI partnered with LADA on Saturday, May 18, 2024, to hold Utica’s first walk to support lupus research, and in honor of lupus awareness month. The event welcomed more than 350 people to walk at the Masonic Care Community Campus in support of the devastating autoimmune disease.

Story published by: CNY Business Journal, Dailey Sentinel