MESARGEN News
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the new MESARGEN website in July 2024! This platform is your go-to resource for research and activities on the genetics of sarcoidosis. Find important contact information and stay updated with our latest news. Explore the site and bookmark www.mesargen.org for easy access. Join us on this journey!
September 2025
We are excited to share some fantastic news! The MESARGEN consortium had an impressive late-breaking abstract selected for an oral presentation at the esteemed ERS 2025 congress in Amsterdam. We unveiled groundbreaking insights that made a difference in the field.
Natalia Rivera presented her exciting research titled "A multi-ancestry meta-analysis offers new insights into the genetics of sarcoidosis, leveraging data from over 2 million individuals across global biobanks and the MESARGEN Consortium." Conference abstract link
Thank you for joining us in celebrating this remarkable achievement during the session “Novelties in clinical and translational sarcoidosis research.” Stay tuned for more updates!
September 2024
We’re thrilled to share some fantastic news! The MESARGEN consortium has had not one, but two of our pioneering scientific abstracts selected for both oral and poster presentations at the esteemed ERS 2024 congress. This remarkable opportunity will allow us to highlight our innovative research and engage with esteemed colleagues in the respiratory field!
Natalia Rivera delivered an inspiring oral presentation titled "Deciphering the Genetic Tapestry: Insights into Sarcoidosis Across Diverse Populations with the MESARGEN Consortium." This was featured in the session on “Innovative Perspectives on Cellular Mechanisms in Lung Diseases.” For more details, check out the conference abstract link!
Additionally, Dr. Karina Patosova, a valued member of Natalia's research team, presented a compelling poster titled "Sarcoidosis Shares Susceptibility Loci with Autoimmune Disorders and Cancers." See her work here, poster abstract link!
We’re proud of our contributions and eager to foster important discussions in this vital research area!
Join us for the exciting 4th International Symposium on Autoimmune Lung Diseases from September 19-20, 2024, in beautiful Barcelona, Spain! Don't miss Natalia Rivera as she shares insights on "Recent Advances in Sarcoidosis Genomics" – a fantastic opportunity for learning and collaboration! Event link
August 2024
We are excited to share that Natalia Rivera will lead the session “The Search for Precision in Sarcoidosis” at the upcoming AASOG 2024 conference! Join us in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 15-16 for this remarkable event hosted by the Americas Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders (AASOG).
This year, we’ll dive into an essential question: How can integrating multi-disciplinary care, research, and education in sarcoidosis elevate patient outcomes, lessen health disparities, and deepen our understanding of the disease? Our thoughtfully curated program features thematic sessions on key topics, including developing multi-disciplinary teams, addressing health disparities in sarcoidosis, exploring clinical trials and outcome selection, advancing precision medicine, and enhancing disease management. We look forward to engaging discussions and innovative ideas that will shape the future of sarcoidosis care! Conference link
June 2024
We are excited to announce an engaging webinar, "Sarcoidosis Genetics 101," led by Dr. Natalia Rivera! Join us on June 20, 2024, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time.
This event, hosted by the Life & Breath Foundation, promises to be both informative and inspiring! Don't miss it!
May 2024
We are absolutely delighted to announce that Natalia Rivera has been chosen as the chair for the groundbreaking sarcoidosis scientific symposium, “What Causes Sarcoidosis?” at the renowned ATS 2024 International Conference, happening from May 17 to 22 in beautiful San Diego, California!
This conference is an energizing event, bringing together nearly 50,000 professionals in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, from emerging talents to world-class experts. Attendees will immerse themselves in the latest advancements and have an incredible chance to network with colleagues from around the globe, sparking new collaborations.
We’re particularly enthusiastic about the symposium being co-chaired by the distinguished Professor Lisa A. Maier and Professor Elliott D. Crouser. This promises to be an extraordinary experience for everyone involved, and we can’t wait to see the insights and connections that emerge!
April 2024
we are thrilled to share that Natalia Rivera was honored to speak at the Third National Conference on Sarcoidosis and Treatment: Comorbidities and the Holistic Approach to the Disease, held on April 19-20, 2024, in beautiful Padova, Italy! This incredible event was organized by the ACSI (Friends Against Sarcoidosis Italy) association, led by the dedicated Filippo Martone. The conference showcased essential discussions surrounding the psychological, social, and medical facets of sarcoidosis, spotlighting lesser-known comorbidities. Attendees were engaged in the multidisciplinary approach to treatment and were introduced to exciting, cutting-edge research and innovative therapies for those living with sarcoidosis. On April 20, Natalia Rivera delivered two insightful presentations: a scientific lecture titled "Role of Biobanks in Sarcoidosis Research" and another focused on patients called "What does it mean to adhere to a research protocol?" It was a valuable opportunity to advance our understanding and support the community! Congress event link
November 2023
We’re thrilled to share that Natalia Rivera had the incredible honor of chairing the “Gene Discovery from Large-Scale Studies” session at the ASHG 2023 Annual Meeting! This exciting event took place from November 1-5 in vibrant Washington, DC, bringing together over 6,000 of the brightest minds in human genetics and genomics. Participants enjoyed a fantastic five-day program featuring the latest groundbreaking research, engaging workshops, and inspiring talks by distinguished speakers. It was a wonderful opportunity for collaboration and learning!
Natalia co-chaired the session alongside the talented Dr. Alejandro Nato, PhD, showcasing their expertise and passion for advancing the field. What an amazing moment for everyone involved!
September 2023
Natalia Rivera had the incredible honor of chairing the poster session titled “Sarcoidosis: Disease Mechanisms and Pathogenesis” at the ERS 2023 congress! This vibrant event took place from September 9–13, 2023, in beautiful Milan, Italy, and offered both in-person and online participation. It served as a fantastic platform for leading experts in respiratory medicine to gather and share cutting-edge advancements. Together with Dr. Marcel Veltkamp, MD, PhD, Natalia guided engaging discussions that highlighted the latest research in sarcoidosis. The session showcased remarkable contributions, fostering an enriching exchange of ideas that bridged basic and translational science. It was a truly inspiring experience for everyone involved, and we look forward to seeing how these insights will shape future research and understanding in the field!
June 2023
Natalia Rivera took on the esteemed role of Congress Chair for the WASOG 2023 conference, and what an incredible event it was! From June 19-21, over 350 delegates representing more than 35 countries and over 130 institutions came together at Aula Medica, Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. The conference, organized by the World Association of Sarcoidosis and other Granulomatous Disorders (WASOG), captivated participants with its theme, “Big Data - How to Move the Field Towards Precision Medicine in Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILDs).”
This three-day gathering was filled with engaging presentations and discussions, thoughtfully curated by Natalia Rivera, a junior principal investigator at Karolinska Institutet, in collaboration with a dedicated team of local and international committee members. Together, they created a dynamic platform for delegates to explore the latest advancements in ILD research. Topics covered included clinical updates, innovative treatment options, applications of big data and artificial intelligence, and emerging concepts surrounding disease characterization and immunological methods. The conference also prioritized patient education and featured a series of industry-sponsored sessions.
One of the highlights was Natalia’s presentation on the MESARGEN consortium, a groundbreaking initiative funded by the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation that aims to transform the field of sarcoidosis genomics globally. Her talk, “Genetic Architecture of Sarcoidosis Using Multi-Ethnic Cohorts in the MESARGEN Consortium,” unveiled exciting new findings that are sure to pave the way for future research and collaboration. Overall, WASOG 2023 was a resounding success, fostering inspiration and cooperation among all participants! Congress website
April 2022
We are thrilled to share that Natalia Rivera has been honored with a prestigious project grant from the Swedish Respiratory Medicine Society (SLMF)! Each year, SLMF recognizes outstanding research in lung medicine by selecting projects that demonstrate exceptional quality and promise for clinical applications. As a junior principal investigator at Karolinska Institutet, Natalia has been awarded SEK 250,000 for her groundbreaking project titled "Integration of omics data to identify potential drug targets in sarcoidosis." This achievement stands out among 18 impressive applications from across the nation in pulmonary medicine. Natalia proudly received her award at the Swedish Lung Congress in Malmö from April 27 to 29, 2022, where she also introduced the MESARGEN consortium. We couldn't be more excited about the potential impact of her work! Link to Research Proposal (in Swedish)
September 2021
We are thrilled to share that Natalia Rivera had the wonderful opportunity to chair the poster session “Moving Forward in Various Aspects of Sarcoidosis” at the ERS Virtual International Congress 2021! Held from September 5 to 8, this innovative event brought together the globe's leading respiratory experts to explore groundbreaking advancements in respiratory medicine and science, all from the comfort of their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Natalia, alongside the esteemed Dr. Vasileios Kouranos, MD, PhD, led the engaging session “Sarcoidosis: Disease Mechanisms and Pathogenesis.” Attendees enjoyed thought-provoking discussions and shared valuable insights on both basic and translational science. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect and learn amidst challenging times, showcasing the resilience and enthusiasm of the respiratory community! Congress event link