Arthritis Foundation Research Program Goals
From Chief Science Officer, John A. Hardin, MD
After careful consideration and deliberation, I am pleased to announce the Arthritis Foundation’s new goals for its research program. It is my belief that these goals will allow the Foundation to channel its available resources toward research projects that can bring us closer to a world free of arthritis pain. In brief, our goals are as follows:
Expand the Number of New Arthritis Investigators
To attract the best and brightest minds to a career in arthritis-related research, we will continue to provide grants for post-doctoral fellowships. In addition, we have launched a joint program with the American College of Rheumatology to provide K-Bridge grants. These awards go to scientists who applied for National Institutes of Health K awards, received very high scores, but who did not receive the grant due to limited funds. The one-year bridge grants tide these scientists over until they can reapply for the K award the following year.
Funding applications for training awards, including Post-doctoral Fellowships, and Innovative Research Grants will be available on November 21, 2008. The deadline for those applications is February 6, 2009. |
Stimulate New Ideas
Taking the form of the Innovative Research Grant, we encourage novel research that may involve substantial experimental risks with the potential for highly significant outcomes.
Targeted Research Initiative in Rheumatoid Arthritis
With an ultimate goal of bringing personalized medicine to people with rheumatoid arthritis, we strive to establish the Treatment Efficacy and Toxicity Database (TETRAD). Through this nationwide database, we will identify clinical and genetic features of people with rheumatoid arthritis that can predict their individual reaction to various treatments.
Targeted Research Initiative in Juvenile Arthritis
Similar to TETRAD, we are seeking to broaden and supplement the existing Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) network to include more children with juvenile arthritis to give us a stronger ability to predict outcomes.
Targeted Research Initiative in Osteoarthritis
Still in the planning phase, the Arthritis Foundation intends to develop a program with a promise that results will provide people with OA a tangible benefit within five years.
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