October 3, 2009 - The Help Fight Scleroderma Foundation hosted its 3rd Annual Greatest 5K Ever fundraiser.

The race was held once again at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids, MI. The cloudy, cooler weather was perfect for the more than 300 runners who participated in the race. Following the race, all of the participants enjoyed live music and a hot breakfast with their friends and families. Proceeds will support scleroderma research at the University of Michigan. This year’s event raised $5,000!

The Help Fight Scleroderma Foundation was created by the Brennan Family as a means to raise awareness about scleroderma in western Michigan.

SAVE THE DATE: October 2, 2010 – 4th Annual Greatest 5K Ever!

September 2009 - Dr. Suparaporn Wangkaew returned to Thailand after completing a two year postdoctoral research fellowship in the Scleroderma Program.

Suparaporn Wangkaew, M.D. joined the University of Michigan Scleroderma Program in October, 2007. Her two year training program focused on clinical research in the field of scleroderma interstitial lung disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Dr. Wangkaew returned to Chiang Mai University in Thailand, where she is an Instructor in the Department of Internal Medicine.

June is Scleroderma Awareness Month in the United States and Canada.

June 15, 2009 - To increase awareness of scleroderma, the Ann Arbor News published an article written by scleroderma patient Marlene Weintraub who describes her personal battle with scleroderma. Read Marlene Weintraub's entire Ann Arbor News article "Other Voices:  Times difficult for research into debilitating scleroderma" 

“I have scleroderma. The excess collagen in my hands has caused my fingers to stiffen and harden. That plus other symptoms forced me to retire from teaching nearly a decade before I was ready to do so -- losing productivity, cherished interaction with young people, salary, and benefits.”

Marlene is a patient of Dr. Elena Schiopu Tishkowski. Dr. Tishkowski is a clinician and faculty member in the University of Michigan Scleroderma Program.

June 7, 2009 – ‘RC Dolner’s 1st Annual Exotic Car Tour’ fundraiser was hosted by RC Dolner LLC, a major New York-based construction company.

It was a sight to see! Over 170 exotic cars (Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, Bugatti, Bentley, Maybach, Porsche, Ferrari) gathered at the beautiful Suburban Golf Club in Union, New Jersey.  Engines roared as police cars escorted these magnificent cars through a winding, scenic route to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.  Drivers and guests then enjoyed a fabulous brunch at the Thayer Hotel located on the grounds of the Academy and overlooking the beautiful Hudson River.  Proceeds from the event topped $150,000, which was shared equally between the University of Michigan Linda Dolce Scleroderma Research Fund and the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund.  

Dr. James Seibold, Director of the University of Michigan Scleroderma Program, honored Anthony Dolce, Managing Partner of RC Dolner LLC and his family for their enduring support of scleroderma research.  Special thanks went to Bruno Guarini, Senior Vice President at RC Dolner LLC, whose vision, incredible efforts, and wonderful staff made the event a resounding success. 

Dr. Seibold also presented his long-time supporter, Betty Benedict of Washington Township, New Jersey, with a University of Michigan memento in appreciation for her contribution of $50,000 in cumulative gifts to scleroderma research.

For information and additional photos of this fabulous event, please visit the RC Dolner Exotic Car Tour website at:

"SAVE THE DATE! June 6, 2010 - RC Dolner’s 2nd Annual Exotic Car Tour!"

Dr. Hou, Dr. Seibold and colleagues

October 2008 - A farewell reception was held to honor Yong Hou, M.D., who completed a two year postdoctoral research fellowship in clinical and basic research in the University of Michigan Scleroderma Program.  His laboratory research while in the Scleroderma Program focused on molecular mechanisms of blood vessel damage and growth in scleroderma skin.  Dr. Hou returned to his active rheumatology practice at Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, China where he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Rheumatology.

October 4, 2008 - The 2nd Annual Greatest 5K Ever fundraiser race was held at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids, MI and was hosted by the Help Fight Scleroderma Foundation.

Scleroderma Program faculty & staff

September 2008 – The Scleroderma Program received an NIH (NIAMS) grant in collaboration with the University of Texas Medical School

This two-phase study, the Genome-Wide Association Study in Scleroderma, will identify the genetic clues to scleroderma by finding genes specific for scleroderma in 3000 patients with scleroderma in the United States and Canada.  The genetic information will help provide a map to the pathways that cause scleroderma. 

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Clancy

September 2008 – The Scleroderma Program received a second gift of $20,000 from The Clancy Family Foundation of Farmington Hills, Michigan for scleroderma research at the University of Michigan.

Last year the Scleroderma Program also received $20,000 from the Clancy Family Foundation, c/o Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Clancy.  These two generous gifts are helping to facilitate fast-paced, high risk pilot research projects.  We are grateful to the Clancy Family Foundation for its vision and partnership.

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