Bryant Reid Featured Speaker At The 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc. Event

September 28, 2023

Bryant Reid, Founder and Board Chair, of The Reid Foundation for Lupus, Inc. (TRFL) was the featured speaker at the September 12, 2023, meeting of the General Body of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc. Also, speaking at the event was Georgia Tech’s Men’s Head Basketball Coach Damon Stoudamire. The meeting was held in downtown Atlanta.

 

In his presentation, Mr. Reid spoke passionately about The Reid Foundation for Lupus, which he founded in 2018. He noted that lupus predominantly affects people of color. It, and those afflicted with this incurable disease, have not always received the support needed to provide relief to lupus victims. When Mr. Reid was diagnosed with the disease in 2009, he said he knew that he had to do something to help improve the quality of life for people living with lupus. The Reid Foundation for Lupus, Inc. was created out of this conviction.

 

The priorities of TRFL specifically include patient care programs, research, promotion of lupus awareness, grant-making to the Lupus Foundation of America’s Georgia Chapter and others. It will also include fundraising to support TRFL.

 

 

Mr. Reid also spoke about his success as a major behind-the-scenes figure in bringing about Atlanta’s status as a major cultural epicenter. He touched on ways he approached his major A&R responsibilities at LaFace Records. Highlights of this work included oversight of recording and/or remixes for the entire LaFace roster, including Toni Braxton, OutKast and TLC as well as his discovery of Usher Raymond.

 

He recounted memories of the night he found Usher at a talent show at Center Stage in Atlanta; how the LaFace A&R employee that he hired found the singer Pink; and the deal he secured which resulted in Donell Jones being signed at LaFace. Other highlights mentioned include his discovery of a young Jermaine Dupri, whom he hired to remix songs for Damian Dame; and TLC before his success with Kriss Kross. Mr. Reid concluded his remarks by discussing the reality-based music show he created in Atlanta on the Turner South Network back in 2002, a first of its kind.

 

The second speaker, Damon Stoudamire is currently the Head Coach for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Men’s basketball program. He was the seventh overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 NBA draft and won the NBA Rookie of the Year. Coach Stoudamire played collegiately at the University of Arizona and professionally for the Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, and San Antonio Spurs.

 

The meeting concluded with a reminder to the General Body of the mission of The 100 Black Men of Atlanta, which is to improve the quality of life by supporting and enhancing educational and economic opportunities, particularly for African-American youth in the Atlanta community.

 

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Bryant Reid Tours The Lowance Center For Human Immunology At Emory

August 31, 2023

Bryant Reid, The Reid Foundation For Lupus Chair, met with Dr. Ignacio Sanz, Emory Division of Rheumatology Director, and Dr. Frances Lee, Emory Department of Medicine Associate Professor at The Lowance Center for Human Immunology.

The purpose of the Lowance Center for Human Immunology is to understand the immunological and molecular mechanisms responsible for human autoimmune, inflammatory, and allergic diseases. The Lowance Center studies both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response and the mutual regulation of the two components.

According to the Mayo Clinic, lupus is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. It most often affects people of color, African American, Hispanic, and Asian people.

The importance of the Lowance Center’s research in advancing the understanding of lupus is obvious. The purpose of Mr. Reid’s tour was to provide him with a more in-depth understanding of the scope of work at the Lowance Center and to discuss possible ways The Reid Foundation for Lupus could support or enhance their work.

Dr. Sanz and Dr. Lee provided Mr. Reid with fundamental insights into the depth and scope of lupus research at the Lowance Center. The high ethical standards and transparency of the research at the Center were apparent throughout the tour.
Mentioned was the outstanding work performed by the faculty and in particular Dr. Sam Lim, The Reid Foundation For Lupus Board Member, Drs; Khosroshahi and Williams. Despite its excellent reputation, the Lowrance Center still struggles to find participants to assist them in the research required to understand — or cure –the disease.

The Reid Foundation for Lupus could be an invaluable partner in assisting the Lowance Center in encouraging communities of color to participate in their lupus research studies.

Mr. Reid felt the tour was an important step in building a working relationship between The Reid Foundation for Lupus and other institutions at the forefront of finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for lupus.

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News

COVID-19 Vaccine Response and Management in People with Lupus

February 8, 2023

A new study finds therapies used to treat lupus (mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept®), tacrolimus (Protopic®), and belimumab (Benlysta®) significantly reduce a person’s response to the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID vaccine was most effective and did not trigger disease flares when vaccine administration was managed along with the person’s lupus medications. Some immunosuppressive drugs used to treat lupus increase COVID infection risk and decrease the vaccine’s effectiveness.

 

Researchers analyzed and compared data from 334 people with lupus and 1,887 health care workers without lupus. They examined COVID antibodyImmunoglobulin G (IgG) levels after vaccination over time in both groups. Higher IgG levels indicate a stronger immune response to the vaccine, suggesting a greater protective effect against the virus. They also looked at the effect of immunosuppressive medications on post-vaccination antibody levels in those with lupus.

 

The researchers found that taking mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, and belimumab at the time of vaccination was associated with reduced IgG (COVID antibody) levels. However, temporarily stopping mycophenolate mofetil administration on the day of and for one week after the COVID vaccine resulted in increased post-vaccine IgG (COVID antibody) levels and did not lead to flare activity.

 

Researchers hope these data will be helpful to clinicians and help revise treatment guidelines for better outcomes in people with lupus. The Lupus Foundation of America remains committed to providing resources and support regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn about up-to-date health information on the COVID-19 vaccine for people with lupus and talk to your doctor before making any changes to your medication.

Article Credit: Lupus Foundation of America | lupus.org

 

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News

New Investigational Drug for Systemic and Cutaneous Lupus Advancing to Phase I Clinical Trials

January 15, 2023

Ventus Therapeutics Inc. has announced the development of VENT-03, a potential first-in-class drug designed to target cGAS, a cell receptor linked to lupus and a broad range of other diseases including neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. This will be the first drug of its kind to advance into clinical development, and it will enter its first Phase I trial cGAS is thought to be involved in both systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), and the latest news marks an exciting step forward in lupus drug development.

Last year, Ventus received a Lupus Research Program Idea Award from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to study the cGAS inhibitor as a potential treatment for lupus. The Lupus Foundation of America’s (LFA) advocacy efforts and strong community of advocates led the fight in establishing the DoD Lupus Research Program in 2017, successfully advocating each year for continued funding of this critical program. To date, the program has provided more than $76 million to fund high-impact, high-quality studies to help find ways to diagnose and treat lupus more effectively.

Continue to follow the LFA for updates on VENT-03 and learn more about medications used to treat lupus.

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Article Credit: Lupus Foundation of America | lupus.org

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Lupus Foundation of America Statement on the Passing of Former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek

November 30, 2022
Former congresswoman Carrie P. Meek

With saddened hearts, we share news of the passing of the Honorable Carrie P. Meek of Florida at age 95. Former Congresswoman Meek was a strong advocate for people with lupus, leading congressional efforts to secure funding for research and support services.  She introduced and worked diligently to secure passage of the Lupus Research & Care Amendments Act of 2000.  The legislation was co-sponsored by 258 members of Congress and signed into law on November 13, 2000, by President Clinton (Title V of Public Law 106-505).

The law authorized the U.S. Secretary of Health to expand research and related activities for lupus.  These activities included coordinating services among federal agencies to address health disparities, increasing awareness to improve early diagnosis and treatment, and authorizing grants to federal, state, and local agencies and nonprofit organizations to expand healthcare and enhanced services for people with lupus.

Congresswoman Meek’s legislation stimulated federal agencies to expand their efforts on lupus. In 2002, for example, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a landmark report showing deaths attributed to lupus had increased 70% between 1979 and 1998 among black women aged 45–64 years. Consequently, the CDC initiated strategies and funded research efforts, education programs, management activities and awareness campaigns to address health disparities in lupus.

The U.S. Department of Health (DHHS) Office on Women’s Health (OWH) initiated programs focused on improving early diagnosis and treatment among people at increased risk for lupus, including the first-of-its-kind National Ad Council campaign on lupus, “Could I have lupus?” 

Other federal agencies followed OWH’s lead and stepped up their activities related to lupus, including the National Institutes of Health and the DHHS Office of Minority Health, which today continue to provide millions of dollars in federal funding for research, professional training, and public education programs and resources.

The Lupus Foundation of America, Board of Directors, and staff offer condolences to Congresswoman Meek’s family and colleagues and urge everyone with lupus to join us in expressing our sincere gratitude for her legacy of caring and support to our community. 

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New Findings on the Role of Diet and Gut Bacteria in People with Lupus

November 15, 2022

According to new research, a certain type of dietary fiber known as “resistant starch” may have an impact on lupus disease activity by affecting one’s gut microbiome – the naturally occurring community of bacteria and other microscopic organisms within the gastrointestinal tract. Resistant starch is a type of fiber that resists digestion in the small intestine and ferments in the large intestine, acting as a “prebiotic,” meaning it feeds the good kind of bacteria there. Some of these good gut bacteria, in turn, have been linked to immune system benefits and reduced disease activity in lupus and lupus-related antiphospholipid syndrome (APS, a condition that can cause blood clots and other health problems).

In the latest study, researchers looked at people with lupus and lupus-related APS and analyzed how much resistant starch they ate per day as well as their gut bacteria makeup. Although none of the study participants consumed a diet considered high in resistant starch (more than 15 grams per day), even moderate resistant starch consumption (2.5 to 15 grams daily) was associated with larger quantities of the good bacteria Bifidobacterium, which has known immune system benefits. Additionally, people with APS who ate moderate amounts of resistant starch had smaller amounts of bad bacteria that have been linked to the disease.

Dietary sources of resistant starch include:

  • Oats and barley
  • Beans, peas and lentils
  • Plantains and green bananas
  • Rice and potatoes that have been cooked and then cooled

While much remains unknown about the connection between diet and lupus, eating a nutritious, well-balanced and varied diet is recommended. Learn more about diet and nutrition with lupus.

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Vitamin D and Fish Oil Supplements for Prevention of Autoimmune Diseases, Like Lupus

January 31, 2022

New research finds Vitamin D supplementation for five years taken with, or without, fish oil (Omega 3 fatty acid) may help reduce autoimmune disease, such as lupus.

In the study, led by Dr. Karen Costenbader, MD, MPH, Lupus Foundation of America Medical-Scientific Advisory Council Chair, 25,871 adults were divided into two groups. One group was given Vitamin D and some received a placebo. The second group was given fish oil and some received a placebo. Both groups were monitored just over five years.

Autoimmune disease was reduced by 22% in those who took the increased levels of Vitamin D with or without fish oil. And those that only took fish oil supplements saw disease decline of 15%.

More research is needed to better understand the effects of dietary supplements on autoimmune disease, like lupus. Consult your physician before making any changes to your nutrition and diet. Learn about diet and nutrition with lupus.

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Lilly Discontinues Development of Olumiant® for Lupus

January 28, 2022

Eli Lilly and Company and their partner Incyte announced they discontinued development of Olumiant® (baricitinib) as a treatment for lupus. The company announced its decision after reviewing data from two large phase-3 clinical trials (SLE-BRAVE 1 and SLE-BRAVE 2) of Olumiant involving more than 1,000 adults with active lupus.

While the first phase-3 trial of Olumiant reached its primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in lupus disease activity, the follow-up trial did not. Neither trial achieved key secondary endpoints, as well. The company is working with clinical investigators to wind down a long-term extension trial involving participants who successfully completed the earlier phase-3 trials.

Olumiant is an oral medication that inhibits the activity of one or more of the Janus kinase (JAK) family of enzymes involved in interactions among immune cell proteins. It is approved in the US and Europe for treating rheumatoid arthritis in adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have failed to respond to other treatments. Lilly is also conducting trials of Olumiant for other immune-related conditions and as a potential COVID-19 therapy.

Despite this disappointing decision, there remains excellent momentum to develop new therapies for lupus. Two new medications received FDA approval in 2021 for use in lupus and lupus nephritis, while another previously approved lupus therapy received expanded authorization for treating lupus nephritis. There is a robust pipeline of potential lupus treatments. Learn more about how you can become involved in research and help propel the development of new and more effective therapies.

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