The Myositis Clinic, led by Professor Ingrid Lundberg, is a world leader in research studies aimed at helping patients. The American Myositis Association is now recognizing their efforts with an award.
The American patient association The Myositis Association presents annual awards to dedicated researchers and clinicians. The Heroes in Healthcare Award is given to a healthcare facility that excels in the care they provide to people living with myositis and this year the association recognizes the Myositis Clinic at Karolinska University Hospital.
The award was presented at the association's annual conference in Baltimore on September 7 and was received by Professor Ingrid Lundberg.
Myositis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects about 100 people per year in Sweden. Myositis means that the body's immune system targets muscles, skin, lungs, joints and heart and can inflame these organs, often leading to permanent organ damage and low quality of life
Ingrid Lundberg is Professor of Rheumatology at the Department of Medicine Solna and has a long history of research on myositis. In 1993, she founded the Myositis Clinic at Karolinska University Hospital. Today, the clinic consists of seven rheumatologists, a nurse, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist and a social worker and is also a world leader in conducting research studies that can help patients with different stages of myositis.
"Our research has a focus on molecular mechanisms that lead to myositis and in particular how inflammation leads to muscle weakness. In collaboration with physiotherapist Helene Alexanderson we have demonstrated that exercise is not only safe to carry out when you have muscle inflammation but it also improves strength and quality of life. The results from our research were early implemented in the clinic and our now accepted as standard of care worldwide", says Ingrid Lundberg.
