Five patient organizations to receive funding to implement plans to reduce health disparities, connecting people living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN) to health management resources required
Aurinia Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: AUPH / TSX: AUP) (the Company) today announced the recipients of five grants of $ 50,000 to support the implementation of patient referral programs targeting disadvantaged populations most at risk of developing one LED and one LN. Each patient-focused nonprofit will receive funding to support their proposed one-year pilot programs to help people living with these conditions navigate the complexities of diagnosing and managing disease, promote better adherence to medical appointments and treatments, and provide personalized resources and education.
“The bidding process was competitive and we were delighted to receive so many thoughtful and creative submissions for this very first Aurinia initiative,” said Christine Lindsay, Vice President, Professional Relations and Advocacy. “The five recipients were awarded grants based on their demonstrated ability to collaborate with leading lupus centers, rheumatologists and nephrologists, their ability to measure program results, and ultimately to provide one-on-one support to patients. underserved populations. ”
Navigation programs will be launched in the following cities:
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Atlanta, Georgia
Lupus Foundation of America Georgia Chapter in collaboration with the Grady Lupus Clinic -
Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn Foundation Health Science Center in collaboration with SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University -
Cleveland, Ohio
Lupus Foundation of America Ohio Chapter in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Health -
Indianapolis, Indiana
Lupus Foundation of America Indiana Chapter in collaboration with Eskenazi
Indiana Hospital, Lupus Clinic, and Teaching Hospital -
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lupus Foundation of America Tri-State Chapter in collaboration with Temple University Hospital Lupus Program
“The need for a patient navigator program at our facility, and many like ours, is enormous. It has long been recognized that racial and ethnic characteristics influence outcomes in patients with SLE. Black (African American and African Caribbean) and Hispanic patients suffer from more severe disease than white patients, with higher mortality and faster accumulation of irreversible damage, ”says Ellen M. Ginzler MD, MPH, Vice President of Research, Department of Chief Medical Officer, Division of Rheumatology, SUNY Downstate Health Science University. “We are excited and honored to work with the Health Science Center of Brooklyn Foundations to implement a student-led navigation program and work to reduce health disparities, with an emphasis on early diagnosis and providing high-quality compassionate care to immigrants, those at risk and those under-served.
“Twenty years ago, very few talked about lupus. There was little awareness and understanding of the signs and symptoms and very little investment in research. We have made great strides, but we need to do more because we have lost too early at all ages, and we cannot rest, ”says Sam Lim, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and epidemiology, Emory University, Head of Rheumatology – Grady Health System and Director of the Grady Lupus Clinic. “We look forward to working with the Lupus Foundation of America, Georgia Chapter, to implement a Patient Navigator program that will reduce barriers to health equity by improving patient adherence to treatment, provider-patient communication, the mental and physical health of patients, and, most importantly, the outcomes.
The Aurinia-funded Patient Navigator programs launch on July 1, and grant recipients will meet regularly to share lessons learned, best practices, and community needs that can be met through navigation services throughout. the one-year grant period.
About systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN)
LN is a serious manifestation of SLE, a chronic and complex autoimmune disease. About one in three of those people with SLE will develop LN. If poorly controlled, LN can lead to permanent and irreversible tissue damage in the kidney, leading to kidney failure. Black and Asian people with SLE are four times more likely to develop LN, and people of Hispanic descent are about twice as likely to develop the disease as white people. Black and Hispanic people with SLE also tend to develop LN earlier and have poorer outcomes than Caucasians.
About Aurinia
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on providing therapies to treat targeted patient populations who are affected by serious illnesses with a high unmet medical need. The Company’s head office is located in Victoria, British Columbia, its US shopping center is in Rockville, Maryland, and the Company focuses its development efforts on a global scale.
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