Dr. Karp shared information on the progress of the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (GRA), a section of the ACR formed in the early days of the pandemic by rheumatologists from around the world who wanted to start a registry of the effects of COVID-19 on patients with autoimmune disease. To date, the GRA has collected data on more than 20,000 individuals with rheumatic disease and COVID-19. The GRA is also collecting information on patients’ experience with vaccinations and has published more than 30 manuscripts.
Other initiatives that have flourished over the past year include the Rheumatology Research Foundation, the Virtual Rheumatology Learning Collaborative (ViRL) and similar efforts geared toward fellows, and Collaborative Initiatives (COIN), which aims to educate patients about complex diseases and eliminate disparities. “I think [COIN] is one of the hidden gems of the ACR,” Dr. Karp said.
Although fairly early on ACR leaders decided to have ACR Convergence 2021 be a virtual meeting—before the Delta variant overtook the U.S. this summer—Dr. Karp remains optimistic about meeting in person in Philadelphia next fall.
Vanessa Caceres is a medical writer in Bradenton, Fla.
