New Endowment To Support Innovation in Rheumatology Care and Research

The Department of Internal Medicine at Yale is pleased to announce the creation of the Endowed Catalyst Fund in Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology. The fund will be used to support innovation in research and clinical care in Yale’s Section of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology.

The endowment was created by the generosity of the family of a patient who received multidisciplinary specialty care, anchored in rheumatology, for her autoimmune rheumatic disease. Autoimmune conditions refer to a group of diseases in which the body attacks its own organs, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage. The myriad disease manifestations can be difficult to diagnose and treat, and patients often experience symptoms of pain and fatigue that impact the quality of their daily lives.

Vaidehi Chowdhary, MD, associate professor of medicine and clinical chief of rheumatology, allergy and immunology, noted that the endowment was made possible by the extraordinary kindness of the patient and her family.

“By recognizing the patient’s physician team, the gift is a meaningful way to both support Yale Rheumatology and ensure that the section will be in a position to provide the most up-to-date and state-of-the-art clinical care,” she said. “This new endowment also will foster the training of the next generation of physician-scientists.”

Over the last few years, the Section of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology has created sub-specialty clinics to address the specialized diagnostic and treatment needs of patients whose autoimmune symptoms cross into multiple organ systems. Chowdhary noted that a separate donation specifically acknowledged the cardio-rheum care team involved in the patient’s care.

Faculty in the section conduct research into both the molecular underpinnings of autoimmunity and the creation of novel and more effective therapies. The section recently introduced outpatient intravenous epoprostenol, the first regional outpatient treatment for individuals with attacks of vascular ischemia, and currently seeks to introduce chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for patients with lupus, which offers long-term, drug-free remission.

The section’s scientists are increasing the knowledge of allergic disorders, investigating the interface between the environment and immunological diseases, and creating novel immunotherapies, including those for rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. The section is also expanding its reach into global health, with the goal of reducing the burden of autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases in vulnerable populations around the world.

“The remarkable research within our section is advancing our understanding of the role of the immune system in both the maintenance of human health and in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including those not typically considered to have an immune basis,” said Richard Bucala, MD, PhD, Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology) and section chief.

Bucala and Chowdhary state that the endowment will be invested and managed by the university, allowing it to grow over time to become a permanent and increasingly important source of support for the section’s mission of advancing education, research, and clinical care. They further envision that this gift will inspire additional donors to add to the endowment and thus support innovative research and clinical care well into the future.

To learn more, or to donate, visit Giving to the Section of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology.

Yale School of Medicine’s Section of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology is dedicated to providing care for patients with rheumatic, allergic, and immunologic disorders; educating future generations of thought leaders in the field; and conducting research into fundamental questions of autoimmunity and immunology. To learn more, visit Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology.