At United Nations, Actress Kellie Martin and Leading Autoimmunity Experts to Address International Health Ministers

"The Hygiene Hypothesis," the Family Connection, Environmental Triggers and "The Global State of Autoimmunity" Are Focus

DETROIT, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Emmy-nominated actress, Kellie Martin, star of "ER," "Life Goes On" and the summer NBC movie "The Jensen Project" will be a featured speaker at "The Global State of Autoimmunity" conference hosted by the NGO Health Committee with the United Nations (UN) in partnership with the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc. (AARDA) on Friday, September 24, 2010.  

She will be joined by leading international autoimmunity medical and research experts who will present to international health ministers, as well as other UN committee and country representatives, the latest facts and findings about autoimmunity and the 100+ known autoimmune diseases (ADs).

The half-day conference will be held at the Church Center for the United Nations, 777 United Nations Plaza, 10th Floor, New York City.

Kellie, who has served for the last decade as AARDA's national spokesperson and is a newly-minted "Mommy Blogger," will discuss her latest mission to raise awareness of the family or genetic connection associated with autoimmune disease through her popular blog, "Mama Mojo." (kelliemartin.tumblr.com)

Other featured speakers and topics include:

• "The Hygiene Hypothesis," Joel Weinstock M.D., Tufts Medical Center, Boston
• "Environmental Triggers of ADs," Noel R. Rose, M.D., Ph.D., Director,  Johns Hopkins Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, Baltimore
• "Epi-Genetics and Autoimmunity," Pierre Youinou, M.D., Brest University Medical Center, Brest, France
• "Geo-Epidemiology of Autoimmune Diseases," Yehuda Shoenfeld, M.D., Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
• "Overview of Autoimmunity & Needed Areas of Research," Betty Diamond, M.D., Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
• "Global State of ADs and Advocacy Organizations," Virginia T. Ladd, President and Executive Director, AARDA
• "NGO Health Committee Mission," Beatrice Goodwin, Ph.D., R.N., Vice Chair,  U.N. NGO Health Committee
• "In Their Own Words," Patient Video Testimonials from Ghana, Kenya, Pakistan, United States

About Autoimmunity and Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune disease disproportionately affects women.  Of the 50 million Americans living and coping with ADs, more than 75 percent are women.  AD is one of the top 10 leading causes of death of women under the age of 65.  It encompasses more than 100 diseases, including type-1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and lupus.  It is responsible for more than $100 billion in direct health care costs annually.  

About AARDA

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) is the nation's only non-profit organization dedicated to bringing a national focus to autoimmunity as a category of disease and a major women's health issue, and promoting a collaborative research effort in order to find better treatments and a cure for all autoimmune diseases.  For more information, please visit www.aarda.org.

SOURCE American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA)