ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME (APS) PROGRAM UPDATE

Thank you for your interest in and support of our APS Program! We continue to pursue personalized, proactive treatments for APS with a long-term goal of a cure. We do this work to make lives better, and we hope we can use these emails to build a community of others who want the same. We're all in this together!


June is APS Awareness Month! Please show your support for the APS Foundation of America and APS Support UK by following their social media pages, as they both work to bring attention to this autoimmune condition!

 

NEWS & ACHIEVEMENTS

June 2025 Is APS Awareness Month!

In support of APS Awareness Month, the APS Foundation of America asked investigators in the Michigan Medicine APS Research Labs to share their insights about the current landscape of APS research and what lies ahead. Click here to read "The Present and Future of APS Research" in the June 2025 APS Foundation of America newsletter.

IMMUNOLOGY 2025

Thalia Newman was selected to present her research, "Antiphospholipid Antibody-Associated NETosis Is Palmitoylation-Dependent," at the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in May 2025. Learn more.

Lupus Unlocked: Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Dr. Jason Knight participated as a panelist in a May RheumNow webinar, "Lupus Unlocked: Antiphospholipid Syndrome," during which experts discussed diagnostic challenges, laboratory testing, and treatment approaches for APS. Click here to watch the webinar.

Congrats to APS Research Labs UROP Students

Congratulations to Madison Engel and Gavin Poppei, who participated in the University of Michigan Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), gaining valuable research experience in the APS Research Labs. They both gave outstanding presentations, and each received a Blue Ribbon Award as an outstanding presenter at this year's UROP Symposium! This is a remarkable achievement and a proud moment for all of us.


A heartfelt thank you and congratulations also go to their dedicated day-to-day mentors, Dr. Chao Liu and Dr. Katarína Kmeťová, for their exceptional guidance and support.


We are incredibly proud of our next generation of scientists. Their curiosity, dedication, and passion for research embody the very best of what we strive to cultivate. Moments like these remind us that our work extends far beyond scientific discovery. We are helping to shape future physicians and scientists, leaving a lasting impact on their lives and careers.

(L to R): Madison Engel and

Dr. Chao Liu (mentor)

 

(L to R): Gavin Poppei and Dr. Katarína Kmeťová (mentor)

International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 2025 Congress

Dr. Somanathapura K. NaveenKumar has been selected to present his research, "The Platelet Adenosinergic Axis as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Antiphospholipid Syndrome," as an oral presentation at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 2025 Congress. The ISTH is the premier gathering place to learn the latest in the field of thrombosis and haemostasis and to form international connections that can benefit the field. Learn more.

 

PATIENT STORY

Inside APS: A Patient's Personal Health Journey

In 1994, Mark Hall was diagnosed with APS. At the time, he was in his early 30s, living life to the fullest – racing cars, playing basketball, and thriving in a high-powered career in healthcare sales. But everything changed when Mark began suffering from unexplained blood clots in his lungs, legs, and heart. Despite these challenges, he remained resilient. Read more.

 

RESEARCH & CLINICAL TRIALS

How Neutrophil Calprotectin Unmasks Future Atherosclerotic Heart Disease Risk

Dr. Yu (Ray) Zuo and his team, in collaboration with Dr. James de Lemos and colleagues at UT Southwestern Medical Center, utilized samples and data from the Dallas Heart Study to explore the relationship between a novel biomarker, calprotectin, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including whether calprotectin can help predict future heart disease risk. Learn more.

 

WHAT I'M READING IN APS RESEARCH

Why Llamas May Hold the Key to the Next Generation of Medicines

What I’m Reading in APS Research, written by Dr. Ajay Tambralli, was created to provide information about some of the latest APS research and to help everyone better understand the ins and outs of new discoveries. In this month’s edition, Dr. Tambralli explores the amazing properties of camelid antibodies and their potential applications in future therapies. Read more.

 

SPARK BARK:

WHAT’S SPARKY UP TO A-HOUND TOWN?

by Amelia K. Knight

Here’s a quick summary of Sparky's lore before we get to a jam-packed Spark Bark! Sparky is a 9-year-old beagle whom we adopted 8 years ago. He is a relatively normal beagle, most of the time.


In late May, Sparky was invited to the APS Research Labs summer party, which happened to be in my (and Sparky’s) backyard. He was thrilled about this because he didn’t think he would be on the guest list, given his history of sometimes questionable behavior. I suppose this success went to his head because he decided to go Looney Tunes when the party first got underway. Things started with a few pleasant barks here and there until the frequency and volume started to increase. And then increase some more.

He was thrilled that so many people had come just to see him. He finally had an audience to show off all of his sprints and tricks. Although he did sense some were a little unimpressed by his short stature irl (in real life). The camera must add a few inches, if not more. Luckily, he was still able to win over the audience once they saw what he was capable of.


During the party, Sparky met a friendly dog named Myla, a Pekingese who lives with Dr. Bruna. Sparky didn’t feel very threatened by Myla, who was smaller than he was, so he kind of served as a mentor, showing Myla how to hover near the children most likely to drop their food during mealtime.


Next, he was a little taken aback by a surprise feline appearance, but he was able to maintain his composure. This was Ginger the cat, who lives with Dr. Katarína. She (Ginger, not Dr. Katarína) actually arrived in a backpack, which Sparky never could have expected. At first, Sparky was wary and confused about why this wily creature was in his backyard. But they were eventually able to put their differences aside and become good friends. Some even claim to have seen the two of them hunting squirrels together, but it’s unclear whether this is reliable information or not.


Altogether, there was a lot of pressure riding on Sparky‘s shoulders because of all the people he had to entertain. He wasn’t nervous per se, but he did sense that he was playing a role in something that was bigger than himself. Acknowledging that he didn’t have much time to prepare (because this was a surprise party from his perspective, after all), he pulled everything off with his usual nonchalance. Sparky just hopes all of the guests had as much fun as he did, and he wants to thank everyone for making it such a pleasant time.


Well, that’s all for now. Thank you for tuning into this month’s edition of Spark Bark! And a special shout-out to Sparky for turning 63 in June!

 

SUPPORT OUR WORK

We are incredibly grateful to those who have reached out in recent months in support of our team of dedicated APS researchers, who began their careers all around the world.


June is APS Awareness Month, and we are focused on bringing new hope to patients through precision medicine. Precision medicine is the next frontier in health care. Our mission is to always be the leaders and best for our patients and their families, and donor support helps us stay the course.


If you are able, consider donating to the APS Awareness Month Campaign and help drive progress toward a cure!

 
 

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CONTACT US


APS Research Labs

Michigan Medicine

1150 West Medical Center Drive, 5504 MSRB 1

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

MichiganANSWERS@med.umich.edu

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