News & Announcements
Coalition for Clinical Trial Equity
The ECU Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence is a proud founding Steering Committee member of FSR’s Coalition for Clinical Trial Equity, working to advance clinical trial equity for Black patients with chronic conditions. Through the coalition’s advocacy efforts, we are honored to have secured a groundbreaking confirmation from the U.S. Department of Labor, ensuring Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) coverage for employees participating in clinical trials. This confirmation will advance equitable access to treatment and support clinical trial enrollment nationwide. Read the official press release here. To learn more about the coalition, visit www.ignorenomore.org.
Upcoming Sarcoidosis Conferences
Mark your calendars for the following upcoming sarcoidosis conferences
ATS – Save the Date
May 16 – 21, 2025
Moscone Center, San Francisco, California
ATS 2025 will offer the latest information on clinical, basic, and translational science in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.
Call for Late-Breaking Abstracts
Late-Breaking Abstracts should report recently generated research on important basic, translational, or clinical discoveries in pulmonary, critical care, or sleep medicine.
Deadline: 5 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Jan. 29
WASOG/AASOG 2025 – NEW DATES!
August 24th – 27th
Shaw Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Cutting-Edge Research:
Stay ahead with insights on groundbreaking research, emerging treatments, and innovative approaches to managing these rare diseases.
Global Networking:
Connect with professionals from around the world, share knowledge, and foster collaborations that can lead to future advancements.
Expert Panels:
Learn from top specialists in the field through interactive sessions and thought-provoking panel discussions.
Patient-Centered Focus:
Discover the latest in patient care strategies and how to improve quality of life for those affected by sarcoidosis and related conditions.
Archived News
WASOG 2024
The WASOG 2024 conference was held from November 14 to 17 2024 in Agra, India. The WASOG 2024 congress planning committee put together an outstanding program that included topics covering the range of challenging clinical issues in sarcoidosis, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary vasculopathy. There was abundant content of great interest to those practicing in all of these areas, as well as cutting-edge clinical science. A copy of the program content is attached in the WASOG 2024 Program. The ECU Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence was represented at the WASOG 2024 conference. Dr. Obi presented on the Current Status of Quality of Life Assessment as an Endpoint in Clinical Trials in Sarcoidosis and noted that the Fatigue Assessment Score (FAS) was recently translated into Hindi in October 2024.
Dr. Obi presenting at the WASOG 2024 conference in Agra India.
The Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) translated into Hindi
A few select slides from the presentation on “Current Status of Quality of Life (QoL) Assessments as Endpoints in Clinical Trials in Sarcoidosis”
Dr. Obi presenting “Current Status of Quality of Life Assessments as Endpoints in Clinical Trials in Sarcoidosis” at the WASOG 2024 conference in Agra, India.
CHEST 2024
The CHEST 2024 conference, was held from October 6 to 9 in Boston, Massachusetts. This premier event for professionals in the field of chest medicine. This annual gathering brings together leading experts, researchers, and practitioners to share the latest advancements in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.
AASOG 2024
The Americas Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders (AASOG) 2024 conference held at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD from August 15 to 16, 2024 focused on leveraging multi-disciplinary care, research, and education to improve patient outcomes, reduce health disparities, and advance disease understanding in sarcoidosis.
Our very own Dr. Obi co-moderated the session on “Teamwork makes the Dreamwork”. Dr. Obi was also honored with the AASOG Emerging Leader Award for her outstanding achievements and enduring impact on advancing research and improving outcomes for patients with sarcoidosis. (George Peabody Library, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. August 15, 2024).
The ECU Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence was well represeted at the 2024 ATS International Conference in San Diego, CA (May 19 – 23, 2024)
An East Carolina University clinic is gaining international recognition for its efforts to tackle a bedeviling systemic inflammatory disease that affects an unusually high number of people in eastern North Carolina.
Dr. Obi presenting Fibrosis in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis as part of the session on Current and Evolving Strategies for the Management of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis (Session C81) – The Marriott Marquis, San Diego Marina, CA. May 19, 2024.
Poster Presentation by Dr. Praful Schroff (PGY5) highlighting some of the diagnostic complexities of sarcoidosis.
ECU clinic a ‘Global Center of Excellence’ in treatment of inflammatory disease
An East Carolina University clinic is gaining international recognition for its efforts to tackle a bedeviling systemic inflammatory disease that affects an unusually high number of people in eastern North Carolina.
In Memorium
ECU Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence is built on the shoulders of giants.
Yash P. Kataria, MD, DTCD, Hons, WALES, : DT M&H, LIV, MRCP, EDIN, FRCP, FCCP, FACP,
(1936–2022)
Professor Emeritus of Medicine
Founded ECU Sarcoidosis Clinic
Dr. Kataria was a world class researcher and the first pulmonologist in eastern North Carolina (1978). He pioneered early research in sarcoidosis, established the sarcoidosis clinic at ECU, and was instrumental to ensuring its early success. Following his arrival from Ohio State University to Greenville, NC, Dr. Kataria built up the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine rising from Section Head of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine to Chair of the Department of Medicine. He will always be remembered as a world class researcher who was dedicated to caring for sarcoidosis patients in eastern North Carolina.