Autoimmune Life Blog

From fear of contracting the virus to the isolation it causes, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought stress to most aspects of life.

Every human has almost exactly the same DNA. But about 0.1 percent of human DNA is variable. This tiny percentage drives a surprising number of unique qualities in humans, from hair and eye color to our metabolism and immune responses.

The Arnolds had learned that Maggie had severe allergies to peanuts and other foods when she was just three. Now, Maggie is 16 and is always finding new ways to live well with her allergies.

For months, people have been asking the same questions about COVID-19: How can we contain the virus but live something like a normal life?

To understand what causes type 1 diabetes (T1D), imagine a spy novel. It starts with a hero, the T-cell, that roams your body like James Bond. The T-cell hunts down enemies — bacteria and viruses — and snuffs them out. Then something goes terribly wrong: The hero becomes a villain.

Dr. Bettelli’s team develops sophisticated MS models to investigate its mysteries and pursue innovative therapies. We recently asked her for an update on BRI’s MS progress.

From backyard gardening to adventurous hikes, summer offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sun — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when experts recommend gathering outdoors instead of indoors to reduce the spread of the virus.

Washington and many other states are taking a phased approach, allowing certain businesses to open with extra precautions and at limited capacity.

BRI’s newest principal investigator, Carmen Mikacenic, MD, is used to working with dangerous pathogens. Still, when she started studying aspects of COVID-19, she took extra precautions.

We asked members of our community to share how they’ve adapted to life during the pandemic, and to offer advice on how to stay healthy, positive and resilient. Here’s what they had to say.