Monday, September 30, 2013

We did It- Thanks to you!

In the September issue of CCFA newsletter this is What is going on. Letter from Rick Geswell, CCFA President & CEO Rick Geswell, CCFA President and CEO I have some great news. We challenged you to double your impact in our matching gift campaign, and you rose to the occasion. Together, we reached our goal of raising $50,000, and it was matched! That's $100,000 to fund the groundbreaking research that will enable us to better treat IBD. Thank you! As you may have already discovered, the 2012 Annual Report is now available online. I encourage you to take a look – this comprehensive report is reader-friendly, organized for easy navigation and full of valuable information about CCFA. I'm proud of the incredible work we do together and so grateful for supporters like you who help make it happen. Newly Diagnosed? We can help. Newly Diagnosed IBD patient Getting diagnosed with a lifelong disease like Crohn's or colitis can be a lot to take in, but we're here to help. Our Patient Starter Kit is filled with information for you and your loved ones about IBD symptoms, treatment options, how best to manage your illness and details about support groups, online resources and a wide array of programs. The more you know about IBD, the more you and your family can be prepared to fight it. Let's get started. read more Remembering Lloyd Mayer, MD Lloyd Mayer, MD We are sad to share that Dr. Lloyd Mayer, a renowned researcher and CCFA leader, passed away earlier this month. This is a significant loss for us here at CCFA but also for the IBD community at large. Dr. Mayer brought his vision, dedication, leadership and brilliant mind to CCFA for almost 30 years, holding several key positions and contributing to some of our most significant achievements. His legacy includes research that profoundly shaped the development of highly effective anti-inflammatory drugs for IBD. Read more about what this dedicated teacher, mentor and colleague brought to the fight against IBD. SEPTEMBER 2013 ISSUE college students HEALTHY LIVING TIP School is back in full swing and CCFA is ready with all the resources college students need to successfully transition back to campus. Visit CCFA Campus Connection today! IS YOUR GI A MEMBER OF CCFA? Make sure your GI is getting the support and resources he or she needs to be the doctor you need. CCFA professional members are equipped with the most up-to-date tools and information so they can better serve their patients. Ask your doctor today! Take Steps group YOU ASKED, HE ANSWERED! Watch Dr. Leo Galland, an internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine, answer the questions you asked on Facebook about managing IBD. Watch the video here. IBD Clinical Trials & Other Studies CCFA provides a comprehensive database of IBD medical studies and clinical trials. Some of the recently added studies include: • A study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PF-00547659 in subjects with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis being conducted by Pfizer. • A study to determine the safety and efficacy of intravenous infusion of human placenta-derived cells (PDA-001) for the treatment of Crohn's disease being conducted by Celgene. • A study to investigate the safety and efficacy of CP-690,550 for induction therapy in subjects with moderate to severe Crohn's disease being conducted by Pfizer. Deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial is an important personal decision, best made with a full understanding of the drug development process and a participant's role. doctors Learn More

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Remembering September 11th

On this day 12 years ago the World came to a Stop when we saw an Airplane hit the Twin Towers in New York, The Pentagon and in a Field in Somerset Pennsylvania. I can't believe it's been 12years, I had just Graduate from High School about 4 month before this tragedy struck the United State Of America. So on this day I am constantly reminded just how Life is so precious to us. I am Reflecting and Remembering those we have lost on this Day 12 years ago. To ALL those that have been affected by this tragedy just know this We have NOT FORGOTTEN ALL the Families, Service Men and Women we have LOST. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Remembering Renowned Researcher and CCFA Leader Lloyd Mayer, MD

It is with great sadness that the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) announces the passing of immediate past Chairman of their National Scientific Advisory Committee (NSAC) Lloyd Mayer, MD. Dr. Mayer was also Professor and Co-Director of the Immunology Institute, the Dorothy and David Merksamer Professor of Medicine, and Professor of Microbiology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center. “Lloyd was a visionary leader and a brilliant researcher who was involved with CCFA for almost 30 years,” said Richard Geswell, President & CEO of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. “He was fundamental in helping us set our research agenda. His passion, leadership, scientific expertise, and commitment to improving the lives of patients, will be his legacy here at CCFA.” Dr. Mayer’s research focused on mucosal immunoregulation, inflammatory bowel disease and cytokine regulation of human B-cell differentiation with special attention on the role of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) in regulatory T-cell responses in the gut. He and his team were the first to show that the epithelial lining cells of the intestine are active regulators of mucosal immune responses that are distinct from those that regulate systemic immunity. These findings had a profound significance in the development of highly effective anti-inflammatory drugs for IBD. Dr. Mayer had been a part of CCFA’s research programs since the mid 1980s and he held several key leadership positions including Chair of the Research Training Awards Committee, Chair of the Grants Review Committee, a member of the Research Initiative Committee and most recently Chair of the National Scientific Advisory Committee. As Chair, Dr. Mayer revived CCFA’s Clinical Research Alliance, was a force in the Microbiome initiative and laid the foundation for the CCFA Partners in Research Program (ccfapartners.org) which is a groundbreaking, online research database. “Lloyd always said that he grew up scientifically with CCFA and he was particularly committed to sharing his expertise by training the next generation of young IBD investigators,” said Marjorie Merrick, Vice President of Research & Scientific Programs. “He was a dedicated and awe-inspiring teacher, mentor and colleague to IBD researchers worldwide and a staunch friend to all he knew. He will be sorely missed.” Dr. Mayer graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 1976 and received the Mosby Award for Clinical Excellence at that time. From 1980 through 1984, Dr. Mayer held joint appointments at Rockefeller University and Mount Sinai. He pursued his immunology interests in the laboratory of the late Dr. Henry Kunkel. In 1985, he became Associate Professor of Medicine and Microbiology at Mount Sinai. In 1986, he became the Director of the Division of Clinical Immunology. Shortly after achieving full Professorships in Medicine and Microbiology in 1990, Dr. Mayer became Vice Chair of Medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center. He also received the Jeffrey Modell Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1994, Dr. Mayer was named the David and Dorothy Merksamer Chair of Medicine and in 1997 became Professor of Immunobiology and Chair of the Immunobiology Center at the Mount Sinai Medical Center. In 2007, he became Professor and Co-Director of the Immunology Institute. He was also the Director of the Division of Gastroenterology (2003-2010). Dr. Mayer received many awards for a life time of outstanding work including the Saul Horowitz Award and the Irma T. Hirschl Trust Career Development Award, the Jeffrey Modell Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute Award for Scientific Excellence, and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Scientific Achievement Award in Basic IBD Research. He spoke and published widely, and his research was consistently funded by the National Institutes of Health. He also leaves behind multiple generations of physicians who trained with and were mentored by him. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Staff and volunteers extend our deepest sympathy to the Mayer family. He is survived by his wife Dr. Jill Fishbane-Mayer and three children, Sara, Marisa and Josh.