The ACR, Rheumatology Research Foundation Address Research Funding Shortfall

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During the meeting with NIAMS, Stephen I. Katz, MD, PhD, NIAMS director, affirmed NIAMS’ commitment to basic science research and career development and emphasized the importance of continued dialogue between NIAMS and the ACR. While discussing the COR’s efforts to increase visibility of rheumatology among MD/PhD students, Dr. Katz suggested the ACR seek MD/PhD students working in labs to discuss potential research opportunities available in rheumatology and begin recruiting prospective MD/PhD students as early as high school.

Partners in Rheumatology: Leadership Summit: To develop a cohesive community of stakeholders in rheumatology research funding, the Foundation held the first Partners in Rheumatology: Leadership Summit in June 2015. The goal of the two-day meeting was to provide a forum for high-level stakeholders from private foundations and the NIH to meet, thus fostering and strengthening the U.S. rheumatology research community. The Summit, which was moderated by the ACR, included presentations from different organizations and interactive breakout sessions. The high-level objectives of the meeting were to identify overlap and gaps in organizational missions and funding priorities, areas for collaboration and partnerships and best practices that may be replicable across organizations.

The ACR also had the opportunity to describe its progress on the newest version of the ACR National Research Agenda and to receive feedback about its priority scientific areas. First developed in 2005, and revised in 2011, the COR has been responsible for developing a National Research Agenda that comprehensively addresses important areas for research in rheumatic diseases. The current iteration can be accessed on the ACR website. The COR is currently updating the agenda to reflect the ACR’s research priorities for the period of 2016–2020. During this process, the COR has sought input from the rheumatology community at large, including investigators, academic clinicians, community rheumatologists, health professionals, and patients. The final ACR National Research Agenda will be available to the public through the ACR website in December 2015.

‘Early career investigators (ECIs) remain concerned about their future, given the difficulties obtaining funding. The Foundation is a tremendous resource for ECIs, supporting the earliest phases of their career with career development awards. The ACR also supports ECIs through training & mentorship, such as that provided annually at the Rheumatology Research Workshop.’ —Alexis R. Ogdie, MD, Chair of the ACR’s Early Career Investigators Subcommittee

Advocating for Rheumatology Research

In May, I was fortunate to join my colleagues on Capitol Hill for the ACR’s Advocacy Leadership Conference. During our meetings with senators, member of Congress and legislative staff, we had the opportunity to move forward several of the ACR’s issues on behalf of the subspecialty and our patients. Among these issues, we made strong asks for investing in U.S. medical research—$32 billion for the NIH in the FY2016 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill, passage of the 21st Century Cures legislation, and $13 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Arthritis Program in the FY2016 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill, as well as advocating for a $20 million fund to support a dedicated arthritis research program at the DOD that will serve veterans living with rheumatic diseases.

Addressing Issues for Early Career Investigators

The Early Career Investigator (ECI) Subcommittee of the ACR COR has identified barriers and facilitators to a career in research among rheumatologists in the U.S. in an effort to develop individualized support for early career investigators. The resulting paper titled, “Barriers to and Facilitators of a Career as a Physician-Scientist Among Rheumatologists in the US,” was published online in Arthritis Care & Research in February 2015. The paper describes the perceptions of young and established active investigators, those who have left a career in research, and fellows and clinicians about a career in rheumatology research. Not surprisingly, obtaining funding was the biggest barrier to a productive early career, and good mentoring was among the biggest facilitators of success.