AP reveals new developments in autoimmune disease medicine through extraordinary patient experiences

By Lauran Neergaard, Shelby Lum, David Goldman, Matt Rourke and Dario Lopez

Told through people who have had their memories, sanity and childhoods stolen by autoimmune disease, the AP reveals and explains exciting new developments in understanding and treating some of the strangest illnesses known — conditions caused by the body attacking itself.

Medical writer Lauran Neergaard noticed that urgent research during the COVID-19 pandemic was producing surprising new insights into the immune system — breakthroughs that extended to autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and more than 100 others. These conditions occur when the body’s defense system turns against it. Historically, doctors have only been able to manage symptoms by suppressing the immune system, a strategy that leaves patients vulnerable to other threats.

After an initial workshop with experts confirmed that the field was approaching what one scientist called a “new era,” Neergaard and video journalist Shelby Lum began interviewing researchers and identifying patients navigating this shifting medical landscape. They partnered with photographer David Goldman to produce a series of powerful stories, including one about a man whose autoimmune disease attacked his brain, erasing decades of memory — even as he now leads a relatively normal life. The series concluded with a hopeful and heartfelt piece about children living with autoimmune disorders, told by Lum, Neergaard and photographer Matt Rourke.

Throughout the series, Dario Lopez designed dynamic digital presentations, combining visuals from Lum, Goldman and Rourke with animations by freelancer Hao Li to create immersive storytelling experiences.

This multiformat series was unique to AP and sparked an unusually high volume of reader feedback and recognition from the scientific community, which praised both the depth of reporting and the compelling human stories.

Judges were impressed by how the team made complex and critical subjects engaging and accessible to readers and viewers alike.

For their reporting rigor and digital innovation, Neergaard, Lum, Goldman, Rourke and Lopez earn this week’s Best of AP — Second Winner.