While RA remains an important focus of the disease-targeted research initiative for the REF, we have expanded the disease-targeted research grants to include other conditions where inflammatory arthritis is the major pathology, including the spondylarthropathies and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. These grants—totaling $3.1 million—are designed to produce outcomes that lead to new insights into the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of these diseases, which will, in turn, lead to improved care and treatment for our patients.
A New Generation of Rheumatology Careers
The REF remains committed to developing careers in rheumatology; last month, 54 recipients across the country received a total of $5.3 million in funding for specialized training and research career development. Two programs in particular illustrate how the REF is making significant progress toward its goal of providing meaningful support to build the careers of rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals in the U.S.
The REF has partnered with the Arthritis Foundation to support the Career Development Bridge Funding Award, which provides funding support to promising researchers as they resubmit their NIH K08/K23 applications. We believe this support provides the encouragement—and the protected time—they need to succeed in obtaining their K awards, and ultimately, to become independent researchers. The success of this program has been remarkable: Of the 14 recipients who completed the bridge funding program, 12 have gone on to receive K awards from the NIH, ensuring that their career path in rheumatology research will continue. What a terrific return on investment!
Our preceptorship program introduces the best and brightest medical students and graduate students to the field of rheumatology as a possible career path by supporting a mentored, one-on-one interaction and a real-world learning experience focused on rheumatology. Of the preceptees who have completed this program, 18% have chosen rheumatology as their subspecialty. In addition, the REF continues to fund rheumatology fellowship training awards across the country to help ensure an adequate supply of rheumatologists for the future.
An Exciting Future on the Horizon
Working with the ACR, the REF has a bold vision and focused plan to accelerate targeted inflammatory arthritis research, to develop the next generation of researchers dedicated to rheumatic disease, and to ensure that adequate numbers of rheumatology healthcare providers are prepared to meet an unprecedented demand for patient care.
Our accomplishments and activities continue to grow at a remarkable pace and, with the November 2011 launch of the REF’s Journey to Cure campaign, we’ve entered an exciting and challenging era. Be sure to attend the 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting Opening Lecture on November 10 in Washington, D.C., where we will be making an exciting announcement about a new development that will ensure the REF can continue to increase its capacity to lead the field of rheumatology research.