Newswise — The American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation (ACR REF) has selected 15 experienced researchers from leading institutions to receive an estimated $6 million from the Foundation's new "Within Our Reach: Finding a Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis" campaign. The awards are the first funded by the $30 million national multi-year fundraising effort, which was developed by ACR REF to accelerate innovative research focused specifically on rheumatoid arthritis.
"There have been great strides made in treatment and management of RA, yet there is still much work to be done to find a cure for this disease," says Dr. James R. O'Dell, President of the REF. "Today, more funding needs to be directed towards the kind of RA research that goes beyond treatment only - the kind of RA research that seeks to find a cure through better understanding of the causes of and preventions for this devastating disease. With the guidance of ACR Research and Education Foundation, 'Within Our Reach' will allow more of this type of research to be conducted."
The Foundation received 73 grant applications for the first round of research funding and after an extensive peer review process led by 40 peer reviewers nationwide, the ACR REF selected the most outstanding proposals with innovative and novel research that is expected to change the future of RA. Grant recipients include:
Innovative Basic Research:Paul Anderson, MD, PhDBrigham and Women's HospitalPost-transcriptional Regulation of TNF alpha Production
Robert H. Carter, MDUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamAutoantigen-specific B cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Gary S. Firestein, MD University of California - San Diego, School of MedicineNeural Regulation of Synovial Inflammation
Richard A. Flavell, PhD, FRSYale University School of MedicineRegulation of T cell Function in Collagen-induced Arthritis by IL-10
Gary Gilkeson, MDMedical University of South CarolinaRole of Sphingosine Kinase I in Inflammatory Arthritis
Joseph Holoshitz, MDUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborFunctional Characterization of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Shared Epitope Binding Receptor
Elizabeth D. Mellins, MDStanford University School of MedicineMHC Association in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Novel Hypothesis
John D. Mountz, MD, PhDUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamNovel IL-17 Induced Germinal Center Formation and Arthritis-inducing Autoantibodies
Translational Research:S. Louis Bridges, Jr., MD, PhDUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamGenetics and Ethic Differences in C-Reactive Protein as a Biomarker of Radiographic Severity in Rheumatoid Arthritis
David M. Lee, MD, PhDBrigham and Women's HospitalIgG Glycosylation and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Antony Rosen, MDJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineAnti-PADI4 Immune Responses in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Markers of Disease Propagation
Cornelia M. Weyand, MD, PhDEmory UniversityDefects of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Clinical Practice:Joan M. Bathon, MDJohns Hopkins Arthritis CenterRheumatoid Arthritis and Body Composition
Harold E. Paulus, MDUniversity of California - Los AngelesJoint MRI to Validate Clinical Remission Criteria in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
Edward Yelin, PhDUniversity of California - San FranciscoDisparities in Utilization and Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis
About "Within Our Reach: Finding a Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis" :Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than one in every 200 Americans, yet funding to find new treatments and ultimately a cure remains significantly low compared to other autoimmune diseases. To address the critical need for additional funding and research support, the REF launched "Within Our Reach" in November 2006.
"Within Our Reach" is the largest private fundraising campaign in the REF's history. It will tap a diverse donor base, and funds raised will support innovative research to learn more about the causes of RA and, ultimately, to find a cure. Since November, the campaign has received tremendous support from the pharmaceutical industry, biotech companies, physicians and patients, raising more than $17 million. Specific research areas for "Within Our Reach" include:
"¢ Innovative Research: Leading to an understanding about the cause of RA and the development of novel drugs"¢ Translational Research: Improving development of methods to repair and replace damaged cartilage and bone"¢ Clinical Practice: Identifying individuals at risk for RA as part of efforts to facilitate prevention and early treatment"¢ Novel Clinical Trials: Addressing unmet needs in the development of new treatments"¢ Collaborative Projects: Leading to large-scale, multi-disciplinary approaches that include innovative, collaborative research groups
"Over time this research will enhance practicing rheumatologists' ability to characterize various causes of RA, predict onset of the disease, individualize treatment for patients, prevent joint damage and improve joint function," added Dr. O'Dell. "The new research projects funded by 'Within Our Reach' are exciting and needed steps towards improving RA patients' quality of life, alleviating long-term effects of RA and, ultimately, ensuring that future generations can enjoy life without RA."
To learn more about rheumatoid arthritis and the campaign, please visit http://www.WithinOurReach.info.
About ACR Research and Education Foundation:The ACR Research and Education Foundation was established in 1985 as a 501(c)(3) with a mission to improve patients' lives through support of research and training that advances the prevention, treatment and cure of rheumatic diseases. Since its founding, the REF has promoted and advanced the field of rheumatology by funding research, training and education opportunities for clinicians, students, health professionals, researchers and academic institutions. On average, 90 cents of every dollar donated to the REF is used to fund its extensive award and grant program.
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