Autoimmune Life Blog

Community and news about autoimmune diseases, allergies and more.

Blog Main Image - 2D Multiple Sclerosis MS Myelin Healthy v Damaged
January 1, 2016

Exciting Advances in Multiple Sclerosis Research

This research update is on a variety of studies that BRI is conducting or collaborating on with other institutions. They are tackling various scientific and immunologic questions that explore innovative ways to fight MS from the lab to clinical studies.

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Blog Main Image - BRI Researcher Samples Hood 1
December 8, 2015

Basic Research Maps Route to Medical Advances

“You can’t lay tracks until you know where the train is going,” says BRI Director Gerald Nepom, MD, PhD. “In immunology research, that translates into discovering what the immune system cells are doing and identifying their different roles.

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Blog Main Image - Researcher Woman Bucket Samples
December 1, 2015

Why Give to BRI?

At Benaroya Research Institute, philanthropic investments have been absolutely critical to the success of scientific endeavors, innovative ideas and medical breakthroughs.

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Blog Main Image -  Cheryl Hile Marathon Editorial
November 1, 2015

Marathon Runner Fights MS

Forty-year-old Cheryl Hile runs marathons, bicycles and holds a demanding full-time job—impressive accomplishments but, on the surface, not especially remarkable in this day and age.

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Blog Main Image -  Biesold Family Editorial
October 1, 2015

Inspiring Family Supports Research

If you’re searching for a story of human triumph in the face of living with autoimmune diseases, look no further than the Biesold family.

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Blog Main Image - Scientific Mouse Small Intestine Organoid 1
September 8, 2015

Collaboration Accelerates Research

Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) is relatively small compared to large research universities, but its impact goes well beyond its size and location, accelerating scientific discovery globally.

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Blog Main Image - Woman Fist Raised Silhouette
September 1, 2015

New Leadership Role

Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) has been awarded another leadership role in type 1 diabetes research. Carla Greenbaum, MD, BRI’s director of the Diabetes Research Program and Clinical Research Center, has been named chair of Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet.

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Blog Main Image - Researcher Woman Pipetting Samples Lab 2
August 1, 2015

Pipeline Analyzes Destructive Cell

There are approximately 50,000 immune cells in every single drop of blood. In a person with an autoimmune disease, only one or two of those cells cause the disease, while the others are busy protecting the body from unrelated infections and toxins.

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Blog Main Image - Researcher Woman Working Hood Glass
July 1, 2015

Donor Support Launches Laboratory

As a young, enthusiastic scientist, Jessica Hamerman, PhD, joined Benaroya Research Institute in 2006 ready to delve further into understanding the inflammatory response of a certain type of cell that is an early responder to infections.

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Blog Main Image - BRI Samples Frozen Hand Tongs
June 8, 2015

Your Blood Can Advance Research

For nearly 45 years, Marcia Wollam has cared for people at Virginia Mason Hospital. Initially she served as an LPN and then she became a patient flow coordinator on the Rehabilitation Unit. But she always wanted to do more to help people.

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