Selena Gomez donated to support lupus research at USC’s Keck School of Medicine

Fight on, Selena!

USC’s Keck School of Medicine has announced that singer and actress Selena Gomez made a donation to the school to help fund lupus research.

Initially the “Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research” will support Janos Peti-Peterdi, MD, PHD, professor of physiology and biophysics and his pilot research program which is examining treatments for complications of lupus.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects more than 1.5 million Americans and more than 5 million people worldwide, and currently has no cure. Gomez revealed in 2015 that she was diagnosed with the disease for which she received chemotherapy treatment.

“I continue to be optimistic about the progress being made in lupus research and am proud to support the promising work at Keck School of Medicine,” Gomez said. “I am hopeful for the millions of us around the world that may benefit from this.”

Peti-Peterdi’s research program is a joint effort with Chaim Jacob, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at Keck School of Medicine, who specializes in lupus research. Together they hope to pave the way for targeted therapeutic treatment breakthroughs.

“Complications from systemic lupus cause serious damage, and we are hopeful that our research, with Selena’s support, will help those affected by this disease lead full, healthy lives,” Peti-Peterdi said.

The Keck School has declined to reveal the amount Gomez donated, but further gifts to support the work of the “Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research” can be made at keck.usc.edu/giving/selenafund.

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University of Southern California