History

Dr. Alan S. Cohen
Dr. Alan S. Cohen

The Amyloidosis Center at Boston University School of Medicine began in 1960 under the direction of Dr. Alan S. Cohen, in the Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology.

Dr. Martha Skinner, who joined the Center in 1970, became the director in 1990. Dr. David Seldin, in the Department of Medicine and Chief of the Section of Hematology and Oncology became the director in 2007.

The Amyloid Center has excelled in research and patient care for 50 years, and has become an international resource for patient care, diagnostic testing, and information on amyloid diseases.

  • Over 500 patients a year visit the Center for an evaluation of their amyloid disease and a recommendation for treatment. This is more than double the number of patients who came for an evaluation five years ago, and is quadruple the number of patients seen in 1990. Approximately half of the patients are new, and about 85% have the AL type of amyloidosis.
  • A number of clinical trials are available for treatment in addition to the high dose chemotherapy/stem cell transplant regimen.
  • Seventy to eighty percent of patients are from the Northeastern United States; however in the last five years patients from 45 different states and 18 foreign countries have been seen.
  • Our Center has been an international resource providing information onamyloidosis to patients, families, and physicians. We gladly answer e‐mail requests for advice and information from doctors and patients.
  • Our CLIA‐approved reference laboratory performs testing on hundreds of patient samples annually. Testing includes analysis of tissue samples to diagnose or confirm amyloid deposits and/or testing of blood samples to diagnose familial amyloidosis. Samples are received from sites located throughout the United States, Canada, and internationally.

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