How do I get a comment on my blog? Five practical examples of what’s worked for us
August 31st - 2010
Writing a blog is hard enough. But at least once it’s up, comments will come flooding in. Right? Wrong! This is perhaps the most su...
International health organisation elects Leeds Professor to Presidency
Paul Emery, Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Leeds and the first Briton in 20 years to be elected President of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), says he will use this opportunity to persuade health policy makers in Europe to put more resources into research and treatment of the disease.
It is estimated that in excess of 100 million people will suffer from arthritis or rheumatism at some point in their lives and this figure is set to rise. EULAR - the largest organisation of its kind in Europe - brings together patients, health professionals and scientific societies to support the research, prevention and treatment of rheumatic diseases.
Professor Emery said: "During my Presidency of EULAR I aim to move musculoskeletal conditions up the political agenda. A major challenge will be to sustain the considerable advances made in the treatment of rheumatic diseases and to ensure the optimal therapy is accessible to all patients in Europe."
Professor Emery is Arthritis Research Campaign Professor of Rheumatology and Head of Academic Section of Musculoskeletal Medicine in Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine. He is Clinical Director (Rheumatology) at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, a recognised European Centre of Excellence in this field.
An outstanding clinician and researcher, Professor Emery established the Yorkshire Early Arthritis Register (YEAR) and the Leeds Early Project (LEAP) at Chapel Allerton Hospital to monitor patients in the early stages of the disease.
He says: "The most exciting development in rheumatology has been in new therapies which have the ability to produce clinical remission and keep patients well, in some cases off all therapy. The data we have collected on early stage patients has helped us to understand which patients need early therapy and identify those that will spontaneously improve, allowing us to target patients with new treatments very effectively."
Professor Emery is a recipient of the Roche, Biennial Award of Clinical Rheumatology and the EULAR prize in 2002 for outstanding contribution to Rheumatology research.
EULAR will lead a major launch of the rights of arthritis patients in Brussels next year. Members in all the EU countries are calling for arthritis to be recognised and prioritised as a major disease like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity, leading to increased resources for future research and treatment.
