FSR’s Inaugural Sarcoidosis Crystal Awards Gala set for May 24

Four sarcoidosis patients and researchers who work to better understand the disease and raise awareness about it will be honored at the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR)’s Inaugural Sarcoidosis Crystal Awards Gala  Celebrating Connections, Collaboration, and Catalyzing Research.

The gala, which will take place May 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST, at Union Station in Washington, D.C., will bring together members of the sarcoidosis community to honor researchers, clinicians, and advocates around the world. Tickets are $300, with “early bird” pricing available until March 31.

The event, which includes a cocktail hour and dinner, will be attended by leading sarcoidosis scientists and clinicians as well as advocates and representatives from business and government.

“In recent years, the field of sarcoidosis has seen extraordinary advancements,” Mary McGowan, FSR’s CEO, said in a foundation press release. “We come together to celebrate four exceptional individuals’ contributions to awareness, research, and the power of collaboration and innovation in driving progress and improved patient outcomes for all impacted by this challenging disease.”

Honorees will include:

• Jeryl Prescott Gallien, PhD, a sarcoidosis patient and actor from AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and BET’s “All the Queen’s Men,” will be awarded the FSR Sarcoidosis Crystal Spotlight Award. She is a spokesperson for FSR’s national campaign “Ignore No More: African American Women and Sarcoidosis.”
• George Mensah, MD, will receive the FSR Sarcoidosis Crystal Community Engagement Award. Mensah is the director of the Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science, in Bethesda, Maryland. The center is part of the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
• John Carlin, a sarcoidosis patient and anchor for WSLS 10 News in Roanoke, Virginia, will be presented the FSR Crystal Sarcoidosis Inspiration Award.  Carlin is co-chair of FSR’s patient advisory committee and hosts the FSR Sarc Fighter Podcast, which covers all the main topics of sarcoidosis and shares stories about other sarcoidosis patients.
• Marjolein Drent, MD, PhD, will receive the FSR Sarcoidosis Crystal Award for Excellence in Research and Clinical Care. Drent is on FSR’s scientific advisory board, is an honorary member of Sarcoidose.nl (Dutch Sarcoidosis Patient Association), and is professor emeritus at Maastricht University, the Netherlands. She has provided care to people with sarcoidosis and worked in sarcoidosis research for more than 30 years. Among her many awards is the “World Sarcoidosis Person of the Year Award” in 2012.

Earlier that day, the FSR will host a congressional briefing on improving diversity and representation among Black patients in sarcoidosis clinical trials.

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research is an international nonprofit organization that seeks to improve patient care and find a cure for sarcoidosis, which is marked by the formation of clumps of inflammatory cells in various organs and tissues.