top of page

Patient-Care Advocacy

CHANGING THE WAY HEALTHCARE UNDERSTANDS EDS

UPCOMING EVENTS

12.png

Professional Dissemination

At the Norris Lab, alongside patients and advocates outside our lab, we are working to improve care for those with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Together, we’re raising awareness by sharing experiences with healthcare professionals, advocating for EDS education in medical schools, and highlighting the need for faster diagnoses and better treatments. 

IMG_8657 2.heic
Facetune_11-01-2025-13-59-00.JPG
IMG_1796.JPG
IMG_7407.HEIC
IMG_6125.HEIC
IMG_6488.HEIC
IMG_8649.heic
Facetune_16-01-2025-12-15-50.JPG

Operation Upright


Unveiling the Upright MRI Machine at MUSC

344354326_1016775409302569_2963227484349294372_n.jpeg
Screen Shot 2023-10-09 at 11.24.00 AM.png
Screen Shot 2023-10-09 at 11.25.49 AM.png
Screen Shot 2023-10-09 at 11.25.02 AM.png

Norris lab member Sydney Severance recently raised $1.2 million to bring an upright MRI machine to MUSC. Her efforts to raise awareness of and success in filling this need have not only enhanced the diagnostic capabilities of our institution but have also demonstrated the profound impact that dedicated individuals can have on improving healthcare access and outcomes for our patients. 

“Physicians can do amazing things if they have the right tools.That’s what this was always about - getting these physicians the right tools to diagnose patients like me.”
--Sydney Severance

Congratulations to former Norris Lab Member Sydney Severance for her outstanding dedication to EDS advocacy and awareness!

Advocating for Improved Healthcare Curriculum

IMG_3586.jpg

The Norris lab has partnered with MUSC to change medical school education! We recognize that prioritizing EDS education in medical schools and other healthcare institutions is a foundational step toward better recognition, diagnosis, and management of EDS. By working to bring up-to-date understandings of EDS to lectures, text books, and licensing exams, we hope to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge they need to properly diagnose and care for patients with EDS.

NIH Webinar

In the fall of 2023, Dr. Cortney Gensemer, Dr. Sunil Patel, and Dr. Chip Norris were invited to present a webinar to all 27 institutes of the NIH on EDS. This presentation focused on our patient-physician-researcher approach to our work and the need for additional funding for EDS research and care. Following productive discussions with the NIH, several institutes have now prioritized EDS among their top research initiatives. This prioritization greatly facilitates the grant application process for scientists and clinicians focusing on EDS, enhancing their likelihood of securing funding. Notably, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is one of the institutes that has recognized the importance of EDS research.

norris lab logo_edited.png

The Medical University of South Carolina

Dept. of Regenerative Medicine & Cell Biology

Charleston, SC
thenorrislab@musc.edu

© 2025 by The Norris Lab

bottom of page