More than 23.5 million Americans are impacted by autoimmune diseases, such as celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions—in which the body's immune system attacks healthy cells—are a leading cause of death and disability, with annual health care costs exceeding $100 billion.
Today, a new home opens as an epicenter for pioneering Penn research aimed at "breaking the immunological code" of these diseases and bringing them to heel.
Leaders and faculty from the University of Pennsylvania officially marked the new era by cutting the ceremonial ribbon in the reimagined space at 3600 Civic Center Boulevard.
An eight-story "overbuild" atop the original building (completed in 2019) will co-locate researchers in Immune Health, the Colton Center for Autoimmunity, vaccinology, virology and viral immunity, fundamental immunology, and other related areas to stimulate multi-disciplinary scientific collaboration. The completed building will also house offices for faculty working in the areas of biostatistics, epidemiology and informatics; medical ethics and health policy; general internal medicine; emergency medicine; palliative care; and healthcare innovation.
"Today represents a commitment to bold, innovative experimentation that will lead us to a new generation of treatments and cures, as well as a commitment to the people who will drive that work," said Jonathan A. Epstein, MD, Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System.
