LFA to honor Roch Doliveux, Chief Executive Officer, UCB; U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (MS); and Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Director, National Institutes of Health

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) today announced the lupus community champions from government, industry, and science to be honored during its Eighth Annual National Butterfly Gala, which is being held on World Lupus Day, Tuesday, May 10, 2011.  The LFA will honor: Roch Doliveux, Chief Executive Officer, UCB; U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (MS); and Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH) for their leadership and dedication to improving the quality of life and future of the estimated 1.5 million Americans and 5 million people worldwide living with lupus.  

"The LFA's Butterfly Gala on World Lupus Day is the perfect time to celebrate the great progress we have seen in recent years in increasing funding for lupus research, advancing the science and medicine of lupus, and the development of new treatments," said Sandra C. Raymond, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lupus Foundation of America. "We want to thank and recognize each of our honorees for the significant contributions they are making towards helping us achieve a new era of improved and diagnosis and treatment of lupus."

The 2011 LFA National Butterfly Gala will honor:

• Roch Doliveux, Chief Executive Officer of UCB for his dedication to the research and development of new treatments, patient advocacy and education, and community awareness initiatives on behalf of individuals who are medically underserved, especially individuals living with lupus.  Mr. Doliveux will receive the LFA's National Leadership in Patient Advocacy Award.
• Senator Thad Cochran, Vice Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee for his leadership in advancing federal research within the Department of Defense for better treatments and a cure for lupus.  Senator Cochran will receive the LFA's National Leadership in Biomedical Research Award.
• Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his groundbreaking scientific achievements, as well as outstanding leadership of NIH, the world's premier research institution. Dr. Collins will receive the LFA's National Leadership in Scientific Advancement Award.

Long-time LFA supporter Eduardo Xol from ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.  Two-time GRAMMY® award winner, Rita Coolidge, will provide a special performance. Rita is known for memorable hits such as "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher," "Fever," and "We're All Alone." Other special guests to be featured include U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (HI) and Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).  LFA's Honorary Congressional Committee is chaired by U.S. Senator Richard C. Shelby (AL) and Dr. Annette Shelby and U.S. Representative John D. Dingell (MI) and Mrs. Debbie Dingell.

The LFA's National Butterfly Gala raises the profile of lupus, generates critical funding to help advance the LFA's mission, and encourages greater public and private investments in life-saving research, education, advocacy, and support services.  

For more information about the LFA's National Butterfly Gala or sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.lupus.org/gala, email gala@lupus.org, or call 202-349-1171.

About Lupus

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system is unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually any organ in the body. Lupus can be unpredictable and potentially fatal, yet no satisfactory treatment exists. An estimated 1.5 million Americans and at least five million people worldwide have a form of lupus. Its health effects include heart attacks, strokes, seizures, miscarriages, and organ failure.

About the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA)

The LFA is the nation's foremost nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus, and providing support, services, and hope to all people affected by lupus. The LFA and its network of chapters, branches, and support groups conduct programs of research, education, and advocacy.  

SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America