Local Business Spotlight | Christy Jagdfeld
NAME
Christy Jagdfeld
COMPANY
Brain Inflammation Collaborative
POSITION
CEO
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?
3 years
WHO IS YOUR IDEAL CLIENT?
People navigating infection, viral and inflammation driven physical and mental health diagnoses.
HOW AND WHY DID YOU GET STARTED IN YOUR FIELD OF WORK?
In 2012 my daughter was diagnosed with multiple infection and inflammation driven illnesses. Physical and mental health symptoms are very intertwined and often misunderstood. After many years of single diagnosis advocacy work, I decided I wanted to do more. So, I co-founded a research and advocacy nonprofit that works to increase research opportunities by reducing barriers to research as well as increasing the awareness of the connections between the immune system, the brain, and mental health symptoms. We do this by proactively connecting researchers, patients, and their healthcare providers. Patients have an opportunity to track and organize what's happening with their health to have better conversations with their clinicians - while also participating in clinical research studies from their own homes. Better treatment starts with research.
WHAT IS A BIG MISCONCEPTION ABOUT YOUR INDUSTRY?
Physical and mental health need to be looked at together as one. An over active or misbehaving immune system from something as simple as allergies can create symptoms that are often misdiagnosed or misunderstood by healthcare providers.
Neuroinflammation as a result of viruses, infections, injuries, autoimmune conditions, or allergies can trigger symptoms such as severe fatigue, light-headedness, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, sleep trouble, brain fog, confusion, migraines, and behavioral or mood changes - among others.
Neuroinflammation (or brain inflammation) occurs when the immune system’s inflammatory response impacts the brain, nervous system, or spinal cord. For many people, this process triggers an endless loop of neuroinflammation and debilitating symptoms listed above (not an exhaustive list by any means). Despite neuroinflammatory illnesses and symptoms affecting tens of millions of patients in the US alone, many of these related conditions do not have a single FDA-approved treatment or even a reliable diagnostic measure, leaving patients and their families struggling to find answers. The Brain Inflammation Collaborative's mission is to uncover commonalities between these conditions and thereby accelerate diagnosis protocols and treatment development.
We look at over 30+ diagnoses with neuroinflammatory components that include such things as Long COVID, ME/CFS, Lupus, POTS, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic sinus infections, anxiety, depression, PANDAS, IBD, endometriosis, Lyme, celiac, EDS, psoriatic arthritis, PTSD, MCAS, and more. Patients are often dismissed by clinicians as they try to find the help they deserve.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
Meeting and talking with other passionate patients and researchers.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
Don't take no as an answer. Keep looking and digging for answers. Don't let set backs and seeming dead ends stop you.
WHAT one BOOK WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
This is a tough one. I read so many published articles and studies that I don't read many books. But one I couldn't put down was by Jodi Picoult called Handle With Care. I love how she does research to have accuracy in her stories.
WHAT HOBBIES, SPORTS, PASTIMES DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?
Knitting, boating, kids, cats, traveling
WHERE WAS YOUR LAST VACATION?
Amalfi Coast
WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
I was unsure...my guidance counselor gave us a test to help students decide and mine came back with Ship's Captain lol. Now I wish I had gone to school for something in biology, research or medicine.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
I have always struggled with public speaking and putting myself out there. Having a passionate cause can put all of that behind you as you want to make things better for others!
CONTACT CHRISTY HERE:
WEBSITE
https://braininflammation.org/
PHONE
833.286.4433
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