JDM Care to Cure Foundation

juvenile dermatomyositis (jdm) is a rare autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system recognises the muscles and skin as being "foreign" and turns on its infection-fighting processes but then cannot turn them off . resulting in extensive damage to the muscles, skin and internal organs. in some cases the disease is fatal. in australia, approximately 150 children are living with jdm each year. there is 15 or so newly diagnosed cases every year. the aim of the “jdm care to cure foundation” is to increase jdm awareness and to enable the chance of earlier diagnosis, while providing specialised treatment and care, of children and their families. this will be achieved when we develop a support service, a national jdm education program and a multisciplantry centre of excellence for all jdm children nationally.