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Autoimmune Disease Investment is a Women’s Health Investment
As women’s health investment continues to bloom, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (AIIDs) are an under-recognized opportunity. Despite an astonishing 75-80% of autoimmune patients being female, AIIDs are rarely included under the wide umbrella of women’s health. Even big healthcare systems have largely ignored AIIDs, especially in women. AIIDs remain a

The Emerging Patient Voice in Rheumatology
Having dedicated decades to autoimmune patient advocacy, I have witnessed the remarkable emergence of patient voices in rheumatology, supported by the tools of the digital world, most directly by novel communication modes such as social media that support online communities. Thus, my virtual-first, digital rheumatology clinic rheumission was built on

Autoimmune Advocacy: Patient Influencers (Part I)
With the explosion of social media in today’s technological landscape, patient voices are increasingly relevant in rheumatology. Across platforms, countless patients have stepped up as leaders and influencers, using their platforms to share stories and empower others. As a patient and patient advocate myself, I’m extremely appreciative of the work

Autoimmune Advocacy: Health Innovation Leaders (Part II)
In my mission to connect with autoimmune advocates, I have also collaborated with forerunners of patient advocacy and healthcare innovation. Advocacy spans beyond social media, and delves into the sectors of digital health, consulting, and innovation. In this second part, we’ll dive deeper into the dynamic world of advocacy, where

Mission Critical: Patient-First Strategy for Digital Health
Why is a patient-first strategy mission-critical for digital health companies? My passion for strategic patient-first care is built on decades of living with autoimmune disease and advocacy for the invisible autoimmune epidemic. Despite affecting as many people, autoimmune is 50 years behind cancer: under-recognized, under-researched, and with mostly underserved patients.

Our Vision of Autoimmune Care
Autoimmune Patient Journey The convoluted journey of patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (AIIDs) has many stages. Unlike cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, there are no population screening nor public health education programs for AIIDs. This blocks the path to early diagnosis and preventative autoimmune care. As early symptoms fluctuate

Some incidence, prevalence & growth estimates for selected autoimmune diseases (AIIDs)
We’ve compiled some incidence, prevalence and growth estimates for selected autoimmune diseases (AIIDs) as a follow up to our previous post. In that post, we surveyed the sorry state of US national autoimmune incidence & prevalence data. Summary: Per the May 2022 NIH Report: Enhancing Autoimmune Research the US has

Autoimmune Incidence & Prevalence: Why don’t we have good data on AIIDs?
Since 2010, we have sought autoimmune disease (AIID) incidence and prevalence data. Despite efforts by independent organizations like AARDA/AA, AIR and many single disease groups, we never found total national autoimmune statistics. NIH/CDC statistics bury AIIDs within siloed categories: Arthritis, diabetes, or by medical specialty: rheumatology, neurology, dermatology, endocrine, etc.

Stanford MedX Autoimmune 2014-17 Presentations by DrBonnie360
We are here republishing our 2014-17 Stanford MedX autoimmune presentations, plus unpublished material from our 2015 Autoimmune Workshop. As we develop our 2023 State of Autoimmunity Report, we’ve been revisiting our previous analyses. For another example, see our 2016-19 patient-centered vision and business opportunities post. In 2015, Bonnie conducted an

Our pre-Covid vision of autoimmune business opportunities
Back in 2019, pre-Covid pandemic, we already saw attractive investment & business opportunities to meet the large and growing need in autoimmune and chronic immuno-inflammatory diseases. Despite being as prevalent as cancer and growing faster, these diseases remain invisible: under-recognized, under-researched and under-served. In particular, multiple medical specialty silos within

Can Air Purifiers Fight COVID or Wildfire Smoke?
Two types of purifiers: filters and sanitizers There are two types of air purifiers—filters and sanitizers—though some combine both in one product (1). Filters, most effectively, high-efficiency particulate-arresting (HEPA) filters, remove physical particles like dust, pollen, and smoke from the air. This can help alleviate symptoms for people with allergies or

Post-Viral Syndromes – A History of Neglect (Long COVID Part 2)
The emergence of post-Covid syndrome shines new light on post-viral syndromes
The emergence of post-COVID syndrome shines new light on the old problem of post-viral syndromes In Part 1, we discussed how the rise of long covid shines new light on chronic post-viral disorders long ignored by researchers and clinicians. But this issue didn’t just appear with the SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 pandemic.