I am pleased to report that the AMP has generated a great deal of interest from Congress. The NIAMS and other partners have taken a variety of steps to inform policymakers about this important effort. On Sept. 9, NIAMS Deputy Director Robert Carter, MD, spoke at a congressional briefing on the AMP. The event, organized by the Lupus Foundation of America and the Rheumatology Research Foundation, provided an overview of plans for the Network. The briefing featured Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), former co-chair of the Congressional Lupus Caucus, as well as speakers from a few of the other AMP partner organizations, including the Lupus Foundation of America, the Rheumatology Research Foundation and Pfizer.
PROMIS
In 2015, the NIAMS will continue its efforts to improve assessment of patient-centered symptoms and other outcomes in research and treatment. Over the past 10 years, the NIAMS and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine have managed the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) on behalf of the NIH Common Fund. Moving forward, NIAMS will continue to support the development of PROMIS technologies and will encourage researchers and clinicians to incorporate them into their work to improve the lives of patients, including those with rheumatic diseases.
Commitment to New & Early Stage Investigators
One of the most serious challenges facing the biomedical research community today is the effect of current funding trends on new and early-stage investigators in the field. We have taken a number of steps to train and support talented investigators as they progress in their research careers. To encourage the next generation of scientists, NIAMS, like many other NIH Institutes and Centers, has a slightly more generous payline for R01 applications from new investigators.
NIAMS STAR Award
Both the NIH and the NIAMS have been considering mechanisms that will provide investigators with more stable funding and flexibility to pursue new and innovative scientific directions. NIAMS is developing a new program, the Supplements to Advance Research (STAR) award, to provide sustained support for scientists who have received their first competitive renewal, or Type 2, research project grant. The new program will provide supplemental “innovation” funding to enable “early–established” investigators to build a robust research program.
NIH Intramural Rheumatology Training Program
The NIAMS also provides training for rheumatology researchers through the NIH Rheumatology Training Program. The Program, which is led by the NIAMS, includes both a fellowship in rheumatology—certified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education—as well as advanced training through the Scholars in Translational Research program. NIH rheumatology fellows have an exceptional opportunity to pursue basic or clinical research as part of their training experience, as well as to participate in translational studies that move basic research findings to the bedside. The Scholars program helps outstanding trainees who are interested in continuing beyond the third year of the fellowship to advance to independent research careers.
