With more than 80 different types of autoimmune diseases, the Colton Center for Autoimmunity at Yale, dedicated to advancing innovative and translational research in autoimmune and allergic disease, aims to alleviate autoimmune and allergic disorders through the development of novel diagnostics, therapies, and technology.

One in every ten people suffers from autoimmune disease, a group of disorders in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues. Instead of protecting the body from harmful substances such as bacteria and viruses, in autoimmune diseases, the immune system loses its ability to distinguish between self and non-self, leading it to target and damage the body's own tissues.

Leading the mission of improving the lives of patients and families are Judith and Stewart Colton, entrepreneurs and philanthropists who, for decades, have been passionate about supporting art, conservation, translational medicine, medical discoveries and cultivating young minds and emerging fields.

With a keen interest in autoimmune diseases and a shared vision of finding and advancing new therapies, they have supported the founding of Autoimmunity Centers at New York University, University of Pennsylvania, Tel Aviv University, and Yale, including the creation of the Colton Center for Autoimmunity at Yale.

We sat down with Judith and Stewart to discuss their background and the impetus for funding the Colton Centers to combat autoimmune disease.

When asked the motivation for beginning their philanthropic work, the Coltons reflected that their journey in the realm of autoimmunity began in 2001 when their son fell seriously ill with a deep vein thrombosis and multiple pulmonary embolisms, nearly losing his life at the age of 29.

The search for the cause of his condition led to the discovery of an autoimmune condition, anti-phospholipid syndrome, associated with thrombosis. This experience ignited their interest in autoimmune diseases and  prompted their determination to improve the lives of those facing similar challenges.

Realizing the lack of knowledge regarding autoimmunity and the interconnected nature of autoimmune diseases, they embarked on a mission to support research into the causes of these conditions. Channeling their intellectual curiosity and a significant portion of their financial resources to establish collaborations with esteemed institutions at NYU, Yale, Penn, and Tel Aviv University, the Coltons worked synergistically to uncover the underlying mechanisms of these diseases.

“Our journey began with our son, Michael, as the driving force, leading us to focus our philanthropic efforts predominantly on autoimmunity,” Judith Colton explained, “Autoimmune diseases affect more individuals than cancer, a fact that I was unaware of until I delved deeper into this field.”

Stewart continued “This lack of awareness extends to the underfunding of research in this area, which is why we firmly believe that education plays a pivotal role in positively impacting people's lives and why we continue to support initiatives that promote learning. One notable example of commercial success is Humira, a blockbuster drug for autoimmune diseases. By bridging translational research with commercialization efforts, there's a great potential to alleviate suffering and make significant advancements in treatment.”

Over the past few years, the Coltons brought the Centers at NYU, Yale, Penn, and Tel Aviv together, serving as a consortium of research and innovation. But the Coltons aren’t just regular donors. They spend hours daily immersing themselves in research, asking probing questions, and making sure they take an all-hands-on approach. Their process of choosing these institutions was deliberate and strategic.

“While individual institutions such as Yale have their allure, the collaborative force of all four institutions is exponentially appealing,” Stewart commented, “By uniting efforts and offering opportunities like cross-institutional retreats and extended study programs, we cultivate a culture of shared learning and advancement. Throughout my career, I've emphasized team formation, recognizing that well-coordinated teams often outperform even their individual members. While other esteemed institutions like Stanford, Johns Hopkins, and those in Europe and California could also be considered, we aim to establish a transformative hub here in the Northeast to accelerate progress. I feel confident in saying that we have achieved significant progress, but there’s more to be done.”

Thanks to the generous support of the Colton family, 26 Pilot Grants and 4 Development Grants to Yale investigators have been awarded since inception of the Colton Center for Autoimmunity in 2021. With the assistance of the Colton Center, Yale scientists pioneer advancements into a crucial field of study, all with the unified goal of improving the lives of individuals impacted by autoimmune diseases.

For more information about the Colton Center, please visit: https://ventures.yale.edu/colton-center-for-autoimmunity

Applications for Colton Center grants for FY24 will open on 9/5/2023.