Disease Resources

Innovation.org highlights important and innovative research into new treatments for diseases affecting people around the world. Click on the links below to read more about specific diseases and advances in treatment.

April - Alzheimer’s Disease
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, as many as 5.4 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States today. As the Baby Boomer generation reaches the age of 65, the growing number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease will take a major toll on patients and caregiver, and put a significant strain on health care spending. This underscores the pressing need for effective treatments for this devastating disease. Read more

May - Arthritis

May is Arthritis Awareness Month. According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis, while often referred to as if it were a single disease, is actually an umbrella term used for a group of more than 100 medical conditions that collectively affect an estimated 50 million adults and nearly 300,000 children in America alone. Specific types of arthritis include childhood arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). Read more

June - Common Cancers

June 5, 2011 is National Cancer Survivor's Day. Life expectancy is increasing for cancer patients, and cancer death rates are down, due in part to new treatment advances. Even more promising treatments are on the horizon. Read more

July - New Medicines

New medicines and vaccines play a significant role in preventing or slowing the progress of many diseases, and saving and improving the lives of patients. This month, Innovation.org highlights recently approved drugs and biologics and innovative therapeutics in the pipeline. Read more

August - Vaccines

August is National Immunizations Awareness Month. Most vaccines work by causing the immune system to think that a real infection is taking place, even though it is not. Then when the person is exposed to that illness again, the immune system is already activated and ready to fend it off. Learn more about vaccines, advances in vaccine research, and read recent studies. Read more

September - Leukemia

Leukemia is a common type of blood cancer, and there are approximately 259,889 people in the United States living with, or in remission from, leukemia, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). The term leukemia is a general term that includes four major diseases: acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Read more

October - Respiratory Health

According to the American Lung Association, more than 35 million Americans are living with chronic lung disease such as asthma and emphysema. Other respiratory illnesses include tuberculosis, influenza, pneumonia, and sarcoidosis, among others. Learn more about how new therapies are improving treatment of diseases of the lungs and respiratory system. Read more

November - Diabetes

Today in the United States, 25.8 million children and adults, or nearly 8.3% of the population, have diabetes, a disease in which the person’s body does not produce or correctly use insulin. Innovation.org highlights important and innovative research into new treatments with the potential to reduce the burden on those living with diabetes. Read more

December – AIDS

December 1st is World AIDS Day. Since first identifying the HIV virus in 1983, 31 medicines have been approved to treat HIV infection. These approved medicines have helped to prolong the lives of HIV-infected patients. According to the CDC, deaths from AIDS decreased in the United States by 17 percent from 2003 through 2007. Read more

February - Heart Disease

February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death of Americans. Learn more below about cardiovascular disease, the new medicines that are in development to treat it, and the researchers who are dedicated to improving outcomes for patients. Read more

March - Rare Diseases

According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Rare Diseases, there are 6,000–7,000 rare diseases affecting a total of 25 million Americans. This population is particularly in need of medicines and other treatments because, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates, 85-90% of rare diseases are serious or life-threatening. Read more