Your immune system usually protects you from infection and disease. But sometimes it starts attacking your own body. This is called an autoimmune disease. Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis are common types of autoimmune disease. Some autoimmune diseases run in families. This suggests that our genes may play Read more
Your immune system protects you from infection and disease. Different people have different versions, or “variants,” of many immune system genes. These variants may affect how a person’s immune system works. This may explain why some people can fight off disease better than others. This project will look for diseases Read more
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects nearly 1 in 100 adults. The disease causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. RA happens when your immune system attacks and destroys your own joint tissue. This damage happens early in the disease process. It is important to start treatment early to prevent this Read more
The bacteria that cause severe staph infections live in the noses of many people. If the bacteria get into the blood or other body tissues, the infection can be deadly. These infections are getting harder to treat. Current antibiotics cannot kill these germs. So, we need new ways to fight Read more
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. MS is 2 to 3 times more common in women than in men. Each person with MS may have a different set of symptoms. In MS, the body’s own immune system damages the covering around the Read more