Barry L. Gruber, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Dermatology atthe Stony Brook University School of Medicine, was one of eight researchers inthe nation to receive a $150,000 grant from the Scleroderma Foundation.

The Foundation funds national centers at the forefront of thescience of scleroderma, a rare, non-contagious disease of the skin, joints andinternal organs that affects about 300,000 Americans.

The disease, which is most commonly diagnosed in women between theages of 25 and 55, results in overproduction of collagen or connective tissuein the body. This can cause a hardening of the skin and excess collagenbuildup in the kidney, lungs, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract.

The Scleroderma Foundation, which is the largest private supporterof research into the disease, not only provides funding for continued researchthrough its grants, but also recognizes excellence in the field. Theorganization has provided more than $9 million in research funds since 1989 andmany scientists who receive a grant from the Foundation also receive funds fromthe National Institutes of Health.

In addition to the grant from the Scleroderma Foundation, Gruberalso won the Marta Marx Eradication of Scleroderma Award. Gruber will be researchingthe role of mast cells in Scleroderma patients. These cells are typicallyinvolved in allergic reactions.

Gruber, who received his medical degree from New York MedicalCollege and completed an internal medicine residency at the State University ofNew York at Buffalo, has been a Stony Brook faculty member since 1984. Hepresently resides in Stony Brook and has received sub-specialty training inRheumatology, and Allergy and Clinical Immunology from Stony Brook University.Gruber also has board certifications in Internal Medicine, Allergy and ClinicalImmunology, Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology and Rheumatology.