News Release

Researcher receives $1.1 million to study lupus

Research will focus on why females are disproportionately affected

Grant and Award Announcement

Lerner Research Institute

Monday, August 29, 2011, Cleveland: The U.S. Department of Defense recently awarded a $1.1 million grant to a Cleveland Clinic researcher to investigate why females are disproportionately affected by lupus.

Trine Jorgensen, Ph.D., of the Department of Immunology of the Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, has received a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP).

Nine out of ten people with lupus are female, a disparity that remains unexplained. Jorgensen's studies will explore the role of a population of immunosuppressive cells in the development of lupus, and analyze related mechanisms of disease suppression as it may occur in males.

Due to the changing demographics of the military population, there is an ever-increasing prevalence of lupus in military.

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About Cleveland Clinic

Celebrating its 90th anniversary, Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. It was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. About 2,800 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic Health System includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, nine community hospitals and 15 Family Health Centers in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and opening in 2013, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2010, there were 4 million visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 155,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 100 countries. Visit us at www.clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.


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