To fund this research, the REF has raised more than $24 million for the Within Our Reach campaign from the community at large and from the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Abbott, one of the four Pinnacle donors of Within Our Reach, became involved early in the campaign. “Medical research has significantly advanced rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Because of new treatments, many people with RA are living pain-free, productive lives and feeling better than we could have imagined just a decade ago. Our hope is that through the continued advancement of medical science there will be a way to prevent this debilitating disease one day,” says Rebecca S. Hoffman, MD, divisional vice president of immunology development at Abbott.
Michael Corbo, vice president and development team lead at Bristol-Myers Squibb, echoes this sentiment. “Significant progress has been made in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, yet there is still much to be done in the fight to begin to identify a cure for this disease, which affects so many. The success of the Within Our Reach campaign and the amount raised to date is a promising step towards this goal,” he says. “Bristol-Myers Squibb is extremely proud to be involved in this innovative research campaign that supports our mission of extending and enhancing human life.”
UCB, a biopharmaceutical company with U.S. operations in Atlanta, is another Pinnacle donor that got involved for similar reasons. “As a patient-centric company, we feel it is important to advance the scientific and research knowledge about rheumatoid arthritis,” explains David Robinson, vice president and general manager of UCB’s inflammation business unit. “UCB is committed to improving the treatment of RA, and this campaign by the REF is an excellent opportunity to advance the treatment options and give patients and physicians the tools they need to combat this debilitating disease.”
The ACR has also made a major investment in the campaign, making the first Pinnacle level commitment at the early stages of the campaign.
“The REF believes that more funding needs to be directed toward the kind of RA research that goes beyond treatment only—the kind of RA research that seeks to find a cure through better understanding of the causes of, and preventions for, this devastating disease,” says Dr. Crofford. “So I am delighted to share that we have funded 30 grants amounting to $12 million thus far, and we will continue to fund grants annually until the entire $30 million has been spent.”