Immune Deficiency Foundation

Tammy Black sits down with IDF's new President and CEO, Jorey Berry, to discuss surprises and goals after her first few months with the organization.

When a child is diagnosed with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency or SCID, not only is the child affected but the family is as well. In this episode, we will be talking with certified child life specialist, Samantha Childs, MS, CCLS about the importance of supporting siblings of children with chronic illness, specifically SCID. This session was originally presented as a SCID Compass Lunch and Learn.

Being diagnosed with a rare disease like PI can be intimidating, as well as confusing. Hear from panelists, Nicole Rochester, MD, Mary Hintermeyer, APNP, and Brian Rath, JD as they review some important questions and information that you should use when discussing your diagnosis concerns with your healthcare provider. This session was originally presented as an IDF Forum.

For those living with rare diseases, such as PI, it is important to have a strong voice in state government and advise policymakers on critical issues related to access, coverage, and the diseases themselves. Many state policymakers are unaware of the challenges the rare disease community faces. To help bridge these gaps in knowledge, Rare Disease Advisory Councils or RDACs are created. RDACs serv...

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in science, technology, engineering, math fields (otherwise known as STEM), is projected to grow twice as fast in the next decade as for all occupations. Even so, a recent Pew Center study reported that only 7% of recent graduates in STEM fields were Black students. In today's episode, we will be talking with two experts, Dr. Nicole Rochester...

Chronic Granulomatous Disease or CGD, one of the rare forms of primary immunodeficiency, causes an increased susceptibility to infections caused by certain bacteria and fungi. In today’s diagnosis-specific episode, we will be exploring treatment options, particularly Bone Marrow Transplant, or BMT for CGD with Felicia Morton and Dr. Vinod Prasad.

In this SCID Compass episode, we will be talking with two research specialists, Virdette L. Brumm, Ph. D., and Sharon A. Kidd, MPH, Ph. D., from the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium or PIDTC to discuss a collaborative study on assessing neurodevelopmental outcomes in SCID patients. This session was originally presented as a SCID Compass Lunch and Learn.

In this episode, we will be addressing payer challenges as well as discussing the ability to ensure access to genetic testing with Manish Butte, MD, Ph. D., and Abraham Yunis, MBA. This session was originally presented during IDF’s Rare of the Rare Summit in October.

Are you interested in learning more about clinical research trials that are available for you? In today’s episode, we will be discussing important information about clinical trials with Jason Bradt, MD, Ali Smyth, Ph. D., and Elizabeth(Buffy)Garabedian, RN, MSLS. This session was originally presented during IDF’s Rare of the Rare Summit in October.

Undergoing treatment for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency or SCID involves months in the hospital as well as months of isolation. Today, we will be speaking with Rachel Homer about how her family navigated isolation, especially during the pandemic.

As the Coronavirus progresses, the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be our best form of protection against the deadly virus, especially for those living with primary immunodeficiency or PI. The CDC recommends all individuals who are 12 years old and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine. In today’s episode, we will be discussing the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine, specifically for teens, with a panel...

One of IDF’s many great initiatives, IDF Walk for Primary Immunodeficiency, unites all members of the PI community to help create better lives for those living with these rare, chronic disorders. You can register for an IDF Walk for PI in your area as a participant or as part of a team. Many teams are created for the walks and are led by enthusiastic Team Captains! With us to discuss being a team...

For those living with primary immunodeficiency, awareness about these rare, chronic disorders is crucial. Listen as influential leaders within the PI community, Harper Spero, Carol Ann Demaret, Autry Beamon, and John Robison, discuss the misconceptions, public portrayals, and general understanding of PI.

As our nation grapples with issues of bias and racism, we have an obligation to address racial disparities in the PI community, in medicine, and in society at large. Listen as our panelists, Nicole Rochester, MD, FAAP, Michele Andrasik, PhD, and Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, MD discuss the importance of achieving health equity by increasing opportunities for everyone to live their healthiest life pos...

Plasma-derived therapies are used daily by thousands of individuals around the world with chronic, rare conditions. Because of its diverse and lifesaving uses, knowledge of plasma-derived therapies and plasma donation is critical. Here with us to discuss the ethics of plasma is a panel of influential leaders, Mark Skinner, JD, Johan Prevot, Val Bias, and Peter Jaworski, Ph. D. This episode was ori...

While we usually dive into topics that are medical in nature, we wanted to take the opportunity today to talk with a subject matter expert of a different type - IDF Interim CEO, Kathryn Stephens. Kathryn Stephens joined the IDF team in mid-April as Interim CEO of IDF. She comes to us with more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management. Listen as we discuss her work as well as examine her...

As part of the blood screening during a newborn screening at birth, doctors measure the T cell receptor excision circles or TRECs to test if they are within a normal or abnormal range. Abnormal TREC results could mean that a baby has Severe Combined Immunodeficiency or SCID, or it could be a different condition associated with the immune system. It is essential to learn about the medical steps par...

Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome or WAS is a unique form of primary immunodeficiency. WAS primarily affects males because it’s an X-linked recessive condition and is characterized by abnormal bleeding and eczema of the skin. To discuss WAS further, we will be talking with our guest, Sumathi Iyengar, the Executive Director of the Wiskott-Aldrich Foundation. Dr. Iyengar is a pediatrician-turned-advocate for...

Many people living with primary immunodeficiency rely on injectable medical therapies such as immunoglobulin replacement therapy, or Ig, to maintain healthy lives. Receiving these infusions can be frightening to those who are afraid of needles, and can challenge anyone who has to receive multiple needle pricks. Beyond needle pain, people with PI may also be living with chronic pain, causing issues...

Receiving advice or support after diagnosis of a genetic condition can be overwhelming for families. One resource for information about the condition and for counseling related to living with the uncertainties and the concern about your child is genetic counseling. Genetic counselors work alongside your medical team to advise individuals and families affected by genetic disorders like Severe Combi...

As we continue to battle COVID-19 into 2021, everything around us seems to be changing - attending school is now virtual, seeing our friends is done socially distant while wearing a mask, vacation plans are being canceled or rescheduled, and so much more. For teens living with PI, fear, anxiety, and loneliness may be overwhelming, as many try to stay isolated to keep themselves healthy. Today, we...

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, or SCID, is a life-threatening primary immunodeficiency, typically diagnosed at birth. Early detection is critical for these children, as is the prevention of infection and early treatment. With early treatment, most children with SCID should be able to develop their own working immune system. While most families tend to focus on the best course of treatment, such...

Making in-person doctor’s appointments and checkups have always been the norm for all of us. However, with the spread of the coronavirus, many of us have tried to minimize entering new spaces. It can be daunting, especially for those living with primary immunodeficiency, who are more susceptible to bacteria and infections. Luckily, many healthcare providers have transitioned over to telehealth, or...

During the fall and winter months, as we begin to bundle up for the cold weather, we must also remember it’s time to protect ourselves during flu season. Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is typically characterized by the onset of fever or feeling feverish/chills, aching muscles, sore throat, and a cough. For people living with a primary immunodeficiency, the flu can cause severe complic...

People living with a primary immunodeficiency, or PI are missing key parts of their immune system that help fight infections. Some types of PI leave people unable to make antibodies of their own. Many individuals living with PI rely on immunoglobulin replacement therapy (or Ig) to provide the antibodies that we don’t make on our own. Those antibodies are necessary to fight off bacteria and viruses...