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Posted by: The Sumaira Foundation in News & Announcements
BOSTON, MA, August 4, 2022 – The Sumaira Foundation (TSF), a nonprofit organization focused on the rare neuroimmune diseases of NMOSD and MOGAD, is pleased to announce that it is joining forces with the Connor B. Judge Foundation (CBJF), a nonprofit started in 2014 to raise awareness and support research for NMOSD and other related autoimmune disorders.
As of August 2022, TSF will be taking over responsibility for all CBJF programmatic and research activities and is excited to welcome the CBJF leadership team to the Foundation’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee (StAC).
“CBJF and TSF share a long history of mutual collaboration and support, so we are delighted to further strengthen our ties and impact by merging our two organizations and building on the unique strengths of each,” said Sumaira Ahmed, founder and executive director of TSF. “Especially in the fragmented landscape of rare disease, it’s essential that we maintain critical mass and increase our organizational capacity by coming together,” she added.
“The Judge family and TSF have been committed partners on a mission to help empower and better the NMOSD/MOGAD world for the past three years. We are excited to fully integrate the Connor B. Judge Foundation into TSF to play a stronger combined role in the NMOSD/MOGAD community. We know that our research, community and education initiatives will not only be preserved but enhanced and expanded under the leadership of TSF,” said Chelsey Judge, leader of CBJF.
Key CBJF initiatives TSF is excited to continue and expand include:
“As two advocacy organizations founded by patients, and given the overlaps in our focus within the rare disease space, it became quite apparent over time that we could accomplish even more collectively as one organization,” Ahmed added. “We hope our announcement will serve as an example and template for additional rare disease partnerships and combinations in the US and internationally.” TSF and CBJF will be merging their patient, caregiver and clinician communities in their mutual quest to raise awareness, build communities, advance research and advocate for patients globally.
TSF is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to generating global awareness of NMOSD* and MOGAD, patient advocacy, creating communities of support for patients and their caregivers and supporting research to find a cure.
CBJF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which raises awareness and research funds for neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and other autoimmune diseases.
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