Funding Opportunities
There are numerous research funding opportunities available through the ACR Research and Education Foundation (REF) and the AF, all of which have specific guidelines for application—from citizenship requirements to how much time must be spent on the research—and these are important to understand before applying.
There are numerous funding opportunities available for researchers at all levels in their careers through the ACR Research and Education Foundation, according to Bruce N. Cronstein, MD, chair of the ACR Committee on Research. Basic eligibility criteria are that the awards go to ACR/ARHP members who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The application process starts with a call for applications in May, and online applications are due by August 1. After the review process, applications that receive a score of 30 or higher are recommended for funding, subject to ACR REF board approval. For more information about these grants, visit www.rheumatology.org/ref.
Grants awarded through the AF are “driven by what patients have identified as their most important concerns and needs,” said Helen Emery, MD, chair of the AF research strategy committee at Seattle Children’s Hospital. The research approach is targeted to osteoarthritis, juvenile arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. For 2012, the AF has 107 active grants at 61 institutions with funding of more than $13 million. Grants available from the AF range include opportunities that range from $30,000 to $100,000 per year for two years. For more information about AF grants, visit www.arthritis.org/research.php.
