Rheumatology Research Foundation Announces Grant Recipients

The Foundation awarded grants to a wide range of rheumatology trainees and professionals on July 1.

On July 1, the Rheumatology Research Foundation awarded grants to a wide range of rheumatology trainees and professionals. The recipients will receive funding for essential education and training, as well as innovative research projects. Their applications were closely examined by experts in different areas of the field to ensure awards went to the most promising studies and programs.

The Foundation committed more than $9.4 million to fund rheumatology research and training in the coming fiscal year (July 1, 2018–June 30, 2019). About half of those awards will support efforts to recruit and train the next generation of rheumatology professionals, which decreases patient wait times and increases access to rheumatology care. The remaining funds will be awarded to advance research projects leading to breakthroughs for the treatment of people with rheumatic diseases.

For example, the Innovative Research Award encourages independent investigators to conduct novel studies that generate new insights into the causes, progression, treatment and outcomes of rheumatic diseases. Other awards, such as the Career Development Bridge Funding Awards, allow investigators to continue promising research by providing additional support to cover research costs and help investigators become independent. Additionally, the Fellowship Training Awards support the training of a rheumatology fellow to provide a more robust and highly trained workforce to care for people with rheumatic diseases.

“The Rheumatology Research Foundation is committed to improving care for the more than 54 million Americans affected by arthritis or other forms of rheumatic disease,” said Bryce Binstadt, MD, PhD, chair of the Scientific Advisory Council. “The Foundation’s extensive awards program helps patients by increasing the number of rheumatology health professionals, while also funding research advancements that lead to new treatments and cures.”

For more than two decades, the Rheumatology Research Foundation has supported high-quality clinical and translational research and education and training programs. In all, the Foundation has committed more than $161 million to fund more than 3,400 awards since 1985, making it the largest private funding source of rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Visit rheumresearch.org to learn more about the Foundation’s awards and grants program.