What
is the Multiple Autoimmune Disease
Genetics
Consortium
(MADGC)?
MADGC
is a group of leading genetic researchers who have joined efforts to identify and
understand the genes that autoimmune diseases have in common. This research may
ultimately give doctors valuable knowledge about the basic genetic causes of autoimmune
disease and allow them to better diagnose and treat patients.
What
are autoimmune diseases?
Autoimmune
diseases encompass a broad range of diseases in which a person's immune system attacks
his or her own healthy tissue. They are not directly inherited from one generation
to the next. A combination of genes, environmental factors (such as exposure to
cigarette smoke or certain viruses), chance and time determine who is most likely,
or susceptible, to develop an autoimmune disease.
Who is
eligible to participate?
If at
least two members of your family have different confirmed autoimmune diseases from the list
displayed on the right, your family may be eligible to participate in the MADGC2
research study. This is genetic research and
participation
is voluntary.
Am I eligible?
2005 MADGC Newsletter
Click here to open newsletter.
(PDF)
Required :
Adobe Reader must be installed on your computer in order for you to read the file
above. You can download the software here.
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