SRF-funded researcher Dr. Howard Chang shares a breakthrough discovery he & his collaborators made, shedding light on why women are more likely than men to develop autoimmune diseases like #scleroderma, in this recent piece from Fox News. The Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) is the primary sponsor of this study. It’s a major milestone in our near decade-long concentrated effort to understand female-biased autoimmunity, a commitment spearheaded by Dr. Chang and his team. Women account for nearly 80% of all cases of autoimmune disease—a category that includes scleroderma, lupus, rh ..read more

Nearly 90% of those with scleroderma have Raynaud’s symptoms. This is why Raynaud’s can be a “red flag” that helps lead to diagnosis and treatment of scleroderma. And for Aneila, dx 2021, this was exactly the case. “Raynaud’s was actually my first symptom,” she shared with us. After that, she started experiencing skin discoloration, extreme fatigue, and major pain in her muscles and knees. Unfortunately, getting to a scleroderma diagnosis wasn’t straightforward. “I visited 3 different doctors who dismissed me with fatty liver and sent me away,” she says. “I was only getting worse, and my ..read more

In 2018, the SRF launched the CONQUER Registry (COllaborative National Quality and Efficacy Registry) – a first-of-its-kind longitudinal, nationwide patient registry and biosample repository aimed at improving care and developing more effective, personalized therapies for people living with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). This innovative endeavor is possible thanks to generous contributions from our community of supporters, invaluable participants, and people like you. Researchers have already published 6 papers based on the efforts and data of CONQUER, including two i ..read more

FDA clears IND to launch CONQUEST trial platform with initial focus on Interstitial Lung Disease Secondary to Scleroderma (SSc-ILD) SCLERODERMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION (SRF) holds the IND as trial Sponsor Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim share the platform; patient enrollment to begin early in 2024 SAN FRANCISCO, December 19, 2023 — The Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF), the nation’s largest non-profit funder of scleroderma research, today announced that the FDA has cleared its Investigational New Drug application (IND) to launch the CONQUEST clinical trial platform and begin enrolling patien ..read more

In our last eNews of the year, read about exciting research updates, like how CONQUEST has recieved the FDA’s OK to proceed, and how CONQUER has already result in 6 published papers. And there’s a feature on a woman living with scleroderma, along with why one funded researcher chooses to focus on scleroderma. Read Now The post SRF eNews: December 2023 Edition appeared first on Scleroderma Research Foundation ..read more

CONQUEST Featured in “Endpoints News” SRF Chairman of the Board Luke Evnin, PhD, recently sat down with Andrew Dunn of “Endpoints News” to announce that CONQUEST has received FDA OK to proceed and share more about the specifics of this platform clinical trial: “The study, called CONQUEST, has the support of two Big Pharma partners. Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim will test two of their top experimental drugs — amlitelimab and BI 1015550— and cover the trial’s estimated cost of $80 million, Evnin said. All told, he expects the first cycle of the study to enroll 400 scleroderma patients ..read more

What makes researchers so dedicated to finding a cure? SRF-Funded investigator, Dr. Howard Chang of Stanford University, shares his perspective on making an impact through scleroderma research. The post Why Dr. Chang Chose Scleroderma Research appeared first on Scleroderma Research Foundation ..read more

Lorena was diagnosed with scleroderma in 2021, and she wants a cure found for this disease. “When I went to see my scleroderma doctor for the first time, I was in a wheelchair…I was unable to walk long distance due to joint stiffness, pain, and shortness of breath,” says Lorena. Today, things are different. “With the help of all my doctors, I’m in a better place now.” And this is why research matters to Lorena—because research is what enables her doctors to suggest better treatments and strategies to help her manage her scleroderma. Ultimately, Lorena looks to research “to find a cure for the ..read more

The most important part of this eNews? We’re grateful for YOU! In our Thanksgiving edition, read more about how Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine is helping us move research forward, how we’re connecting researchers together, and why one man has fundraised for the SRF for 35 years. Read Now The post SRF eNews: November 2023 Edition appeared first on Scleroderma Research Foundation ..read more

In this month’s eNews, learn more about the first-ever recipient of the Bob Saget Legacy Award, the new industry partner joining the CONQUEST platform clinical trial, a golfing fundraiser for a cure, and more. Read Now The post SRF eNews: October 2023 Edition appeared first on Scleroderma Research Foundation ..read more