Foundation Update

The Foundation of the National Lipid Association (FNLA) has been hard at work in the past few months, and we have many new initiatives and accomplishments to show for it.

Most recently, the FNLA helped launch an awareness campaign centered on elevated triglycerides and the role they play in a patient’s life. The “What’s Your Number?” campaign kicked off in conjunction with September’s National Cholesterol Education Month, and encouraged patient education and discussion about lipid management and the resulting consequences of high cholesterol and triglycerides. The Foundation’s initiatives for this campaign have included media interviews, the launch of a patient resource page on LearnYourLipids.org, and the creation of a patient tool that was mailed to NLA members in this LipidSpin for display in their office. In addition, you can view our “What’s Your Number?” infographic on page 35.

To coincide with this campaign launch, the FNLA recently acquired a Cholestech machine, which will facilitate future efforts to conduct cholesterol screenings at patient events. The first screening was done Sept. 20 at the Yankee FanFest in the Health and Wellness Village. Volunteers from the Northeast Chapter of the NLA manned the booth and educated attendees about the importance of cholesterol and providing appropriate screenings.

The event was a tremendous success, and the Foundation looks forward to being able to participate in more patient events around the country to provide screenings and feedback on managing cholesterol.

In addition, the Foundation will be sponsoring a special abstract award at the 2015 NLA Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago from June 11–14, 2015. In honor of Donald Hunninghake, MD, a pioneer in lipid research, the Foundation is offering The Foundation of the National Lipid Association Donald Hunninghake Familial Hypercholesterolemia Abstract Award for the best submitted abstract specifically in the area of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) research.

The Foundation has had a significant focus geared toward patient awareness and education concerning disorders such as FH, and this award has been created in order to continue that focus and to further encourage clinicians in their research and study of such disorders. The winner will be determined by the Foundation of the NLA Board of Directors once the abstract committee has approved the abstracts in this category. The award will be presented to the winner at the Honors and Awards Ceremony at the NLA 2015 Annual Scientific Sessions. Please check lipid.org/abstracts for more information on submitting an abstract in this category for consideration of this award.