The ACR and the Arthritis Foundation co-hosted a Congressional briefing to raise awareness on Capitol Hill about the realities of arthritis. Held in the Rayburn House Office Building on May 6, the event brought together patients, physicians and advocates to challenge misconceptions and advocate for sustained investment in rheumatology research.
ACR President Carol Langford emphasized the value of federally funded research.
The briefing opened with remarks from ACR President Carol Langford, MD, MHS, who highlighted the widespread impact of arthritis and the importance of public education. “Too often, arthritis is dismissed as an inevitable part of aging,” Dr. Langford said. “But this disease affects people of all ages—including 300,000 children—and it is the leading cause of disability in the United States. We must correct these misconceptions and ensure that research funding reflects the true burden of this disease.”
Dr. Langford also emphasized the economic and societal value of research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), noting that such funding not only drives medical breakthroughs but also stimulates local economies and job creation. Her remarks echoed the message of more than 100 ACR advocates, who took to the Hill to advocate for protecting research funding as part of the ACR’s annual Advocates for Arthritis meeting.
Arthritis Foundation President and CEO Steve Taylor delivered remarks at the May 6 event.
Following Dr. Langford’s remarks, Steve Taylor, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation, called attention to the foundation’s transformative work with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. The event featured powerful remarks from a patient with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and a panel of arthritis patients who shared personal stories about navigating arthritis, underscoring the need for continued innovation and access to specialized care.
