Driving Advances in Stiff Person Syndrome
Many of us first heard of a rare disease called stiff person syndrome (SPS) when Grammy-winning singer Céline Dion announced her diagnosis with the debilitating disorder in late 2022.
Fewer may know that our campus is home to trailblazers in the field of SPS research ‒ leaders who are helping Ms. Dion overcome the painful disease while spearheading research and clinical trials that are getting us closer to a cure.
SPS, commonly characterized by intense muscle spasms and difficulty walking, is one of a group of autoimmune neurologic disorders for which our physician-scientists are seeking solutions. Immune therapies are proving effective for many patients with SPS and related conditions, and represent a growing area of investigation at CU Anschutz.
The Start of a Bright Future
“Once we cure SPS, I think we're going to be on the road to curing more autoimmune neurologic diseases.” - Amanda Piquet, MD
Amanda Piquet, MD, has headed up Ms. Dion’s care team on our campus for the past two years and leads a research lab dedicated to finding promising new therapies for these disorders. Dr. Piquet was recently named inaugural Céline Dion Foundation Endowed Chair in Autoimmune Neurology, following a $2 million gift that will speed autoimmune neurology research and trials.
“This is just the start of a very bright future for those with the disease,” said Dr. Piquet. Once we cure SPS, I think we’re going to be on the road to curing more autoimmune neurologic diseases.”
You can learn more about SPS ‒ and new approaches on the horizon for treating autoimmune neurologic diseases ‒ in this video featuring Dr. Piquet.
Replacing Fear With Hope
Our health science campus is one of only a few in the country with a focus on SPS research. This work is boosting public awareness about the disease while further elevating CU Anschutz on the national and international stage.Most importantly, Dr. Piquet and team are providing long-awaited answers to those living with disabling autoimmune diseases like SPS. At the June premiere of her documentary “I Am: Céline Dion,” Ms. Dion credited Dr. Piquet with helping her solve the mystery impacting her health.
“In finding ways to manage and treat my condition, Dr. Piquet has delivered a very, very important result for me,” said Dion. “She has replaced my fear with hope.”
Sincerely,
Don Elliman