Tag Archives: arthritis research grants

Closing the Gap in the Nation’s Rheumatologist Shortage

Access to care for arthritis patients isn’t always a guarantee. All too often, seeing a rheumatologist includes traveling out of state because of the severe rheumatologist shortage. We are committed to closing this gap by offering fellowship grants to universities in underserved areas that offer innovative training programs. Continue reading Closing the Gap in the Nation’s Rheumatologist Shortage

rheumatoid arthritis research

ELMO1 – More Than Just Your Friendly, Red Sesame Street Character!

Dr. Sanja Arandjelovic has been studying inflammation and arthritis for a while – specifically, how a gene called ELMO1 is related to arthritis symptoms in mice. In 2010, the Arthritis Foundation awarded Dr. Arandjelovic the Philip S. Maaram Esq. Research (Planned Giving) 3-year grant for a project that studied cell enzymes related to joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in mice.

During this study, Dr. Arandjelovic worked with Dr. Kodi Ravichandran and his research team at the University of Virginia on a related project, examining the process of joint inflammation in RA. Their work may provide clues to why the pain flare-ups associated with RA occur – and lead to new treatments.

Continue reading ELMO1 – More Than Just Your Friendly, Red Sesame Street Character!

2018 fellow recipient Margaret Guthrie

Meet Dr. Guthrie: One of Our Newest Foundation-Sponsored Fellows!

Because access to care is not always guaranteed, we’ve been working to help close the gap on the nation’s rheumatologist shortage through our fellowship initiative. In June, we announced five new fellowship awards for 2018. One of those grant awards was offered to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) adult rheumatology program. Doctors at UAB help their community in several ways, including pilot programs in telecare, disease specific clinics, and a clinic for uninsured patients. Continue reading Meet Dr. Guthrie: One of Our Newest Foundation-Sponsored Fellows!

2018 Fellow recipient Dr. Sani

Meet Sara Sani: One of Our Newest Foundation-Sponsored Fellows!

Because access to care is not always guaranteed, we’ve been working to help close the gap on the nation’s rheumatologist shortage through our fellowship initiative. In June, we announced five new fellowship awards for 2018. One of those grant awards was offered to the University of California, San Francisco’s (UCSF) adult rheumatology program. This globally recognized program serves more than 6,000 arthritis patients each year. Continue reading Meet Sara Sani: One of Our Newest Foundation-Sponsored Fellows!

carra grants 2018

Spring 2018 Childhood Research Grants Announced

We recently gave approximately $160,000 toward childhood arthritis research in the form of research grants. The grants are funded through the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA); small grants were given to pediatric rheumatologists and fellows small grant research awards were given to third year fellowship students.

Continue reading Spring 2018 Childhood Research Grants Announced

carra grants 2018

CARRA – Arthritis Foundation Grant Awardees Announced

The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) recently announced award recipients for the CARRA-Arthritis Foundation 2018 large and small grant awards. Grants are awarded to investigators with projects that positively impact the pediatric rheumatology scientific community. Funded by the Arthritis Foundation, a total of almost $240,000 was awarded for this year’s grants. Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation (AOII), a funding partner, funded three of the grants noted below.

“These grants are important because of the rarity of these patients, “explained Guy Eakin, PhD, senior vice president of Scientific Strategy. “Research on rare conditions is difficult, and required broad networks like the partnership between the Arthritis Foundation and CARRA to launch great ideas, then turn them into active research programs. We’re very proud to work in partnership with CARRA to see these and other major scientific initiatives moving forward.”

Of the 9 grants awarded, 5 are related to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) studies, 3 are related to juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) studies, and 1 looks at tracking localized disease with mobile apps.

LARGE GRANT AWARDEES

Two applications were selected to receive $50,000 awards:

  • Kiana Johnson, East Tennessee State University: Healthcare Transition Readiness and Health Self-management among youth with Juvenile Systemic Lupus (funded by AOII)
  • Kathleen O’Neil, Indiana University School of Medicine: The Relationship Between Changes in Adipokine Levels and Disease Activity in Pubertal Children with SLE

SMALL GRANTS

Seven new small grants of up to $25k each were awarded. Congratulations to:

  • Fatima Barbar-Smiley, Nationwide Children’s Hospital: Immunogenicity of pneumococcal vaccination and impact on nasopharyngeal pneumococcus colonization in patients with childhood onset systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Ingrid Goh, The Hospital for Sick Children: Patient and Caregiver Engagement in Research (PACER): Approaching for research on date of rheumatic diagnosis—a pilot project (funded by AOII)
  • Joyce Hui-Yuen, Cohen Children’s Medical Center: Feasibility of Conducting Epigenetic Analysis in Pediatric Lupus B Cells
  • Suzanne Li, Hackensack University Medical Center: Tracking Disease Activity in Juvenile Localized Scleroderma with a Mobile App (funded by AOII)
  • Melissa Oliver, Indiana University, Riley Hospital for Children: Clinical disease manifestations associated with anti-TNF non-response in Juvenile Spondyloarthropathy
  • Victoria Werth, The University of Pennsylvania: Evaluation of the reliability and validity of the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) in pediatrics
  • Leandra Woolnough, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children: Longitudinal Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Assessment in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

 CARRA will continue with the large grants program in 2019. The deadline for the next round of large grants will be March 1, 2019. Visit the CARRA website for details on other funding opportunities.