Marja Kruithof

Marja Kruithof has been chair of the NVLE, Dutch Patients Organization for Lupus, APS, Scleroderma and MCTD since 2006. This organization was founded in 1980 because at that time patients with a Connective Tissue Disease found that it was very difficult to get information about their diseases. Marja was diagnosed with a Connective Tissue Disease in 2004. Marja’s background is nursing and management (in hospitals). In recent years she became involved in the work of LUPUS EUROPE (LE) and last September she became Secretary of this Umbrella Organization.

From 2007 the NVLE has been involved in organizing a yearly patients congress; in the odd years for Scleroderma and MCTD, in the even years for Lupus and APS. In 2008 the NVLE Award was presented for the first time. This Award is an encouragement for young doctors who are researching in the field of the diseases represented by the NVLE. This research must show an immediate benefit for patients, for instance on quality of life. Marja is a member of the jury for the NVLE Award. She is also chair of the board of the NVLE fund. The money from this fund is used, for instance, to help young doctors financially when they have to give a presentation abroad on their research into Lupus or one of the other diseases represented and also for general research and research in the field of quality of life for patients.