All Hands on DRESS: a conversation with Elisama Dias, founder of DRESS Brazil Institute
- Deanna Lorianni
- Jul 15
- 1 min read
DRESS Syndrome is a relatively unknown and under-researched severe reaction to taking medicine. It's considered a severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR). Around the world, patients and families are often left trying to figure out this disease with few answers easy to find. Fortunately, patient advocacy organizations can help patients bridge the gap between lived experiences and medical understanding and care that can help save their lives.
Such is the case for DRESS Brazil Institute (Instituto DRESS Brazil). The organization is the first-known organization supporting DRESS Syndrome patients and families in Brazil, providing Brazilians and others from around the world with critical advocacy and community.
In this conversation, we speak with the Institute's Founder and Director Elisama Dias. We learn about what drove her to form the Institute and how the organization is filling an advocacy gap in Brazil. Speaking with her is Deanna Lorianni, Communications Director for the DRESS Syndrome Foundation.
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"All Hands on DRESS" is a call to action urging federal legislators to dedicate research funding to severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) like DRESS Syndrome. To date, zero FDA-approved therapies exist and no dedicated research funding is in place to help researchers better understand SCARs.
You can take action to help empower these efforts:
Sign our petition to Congress, NIH, and FDA that urges for this funding.
Write your members of Congress demanding that they take action to fund SCARs research.
Read about Dr. Shaquita Bell, Anna Marie, and Jeremy Sauer's experiences with DRESS Syndrome.
Share these blogs with your community and help spread DRESS awareness.
One small act can collectively turn into a movement.
Together, we have All Hands on DRESS!
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