Autoimmune Life Blog

Adam’s grandfather was diagnosed at age 12, his father, Reid, at age 29, and his older brother, Isaiah, at age 9. When Isaiah was diagnosed, his mother, Jenifer, began investigating if there was a way to keep Adam and his little sister, Rosie, from developing diabetes.

Celiac disease can be difficult to diagnose and has no cure. Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) recently launched a new biorepository for the disease to collect blood samples, tissue samples and medical histories of people with the disease.

Robert Vernon, PhD, a research associate member at BRI, and his team are pioneers in the development of engineered replacements for tissues and organs lost through disease or trauma.

One of the nation’s greatest research treasures was developed at Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) and is being enhanced every day. The treasure is more than 100,000 blood and tissue samples contained within huge freezers.

Annie Shultz is determined that history won’t repeat itself. Her father, Richard Shultz, was diagnosed at age 19 with type 1 diabetes. Annie watched her father struggle with complications her entire life.

Gaylia Meitzen lived her life with joy and courage. Though she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 16, she enthusiastically took up fishing, boating, golfing and traveling, and she even climbed Mount Rainier.