Making a Difference

Why Sharon Cares about the 2021 Research Challenge

By July 3, 2021July 29th, 2021No Comments

“I love this picture of us,” says Sharon Dobie, looking at a photo of her and her son Matt out on the water on a beautiful day. A man with a steely resolve, an infectious laugh, and a can-do attitude, Matt passed in 2017 from complications of pneumonia and scleroderma. Sharon became a member of the SRF Board of Directors that same year to join the foundation’s search for a cure.

Today, Sharon asks for everyone to stand with her in supporting the 2021 Research Challenge. This year, the SRF’s Annual Research Challenge highlights the Multi-omics Profiling of Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis project. Inspired by the unique nature of this research, which is only possible at just a select few elite institutions, Sharon says, “This challenge is really important to me, because Matt’s worst part of his condition was scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease.”

With her medical expertise as a Family Medicine physician, Sharon understands why it’s not enough to just fund research; she recognizes the important role played by the SRF to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery by nurturing the most promising projects and fostering collaboration. “The SRF provides leadership to some of the brightest minds working on scleroderma,” she says. “We’re driving science in the direction of a cure.” Join Sharon in driving science today.

Support the SRF Research Challenge before August 15th and your gift will be matched.