Alexandria, VA – The Myositis Association (TMA) announces the awarding of three new research grants to fund basic and applied investigations in myositis diseases.
Since 2002, TMA’s annual research funding has awarded 37 grants and 19 research fellowships, totaling nearly $7 million. We are pleased to announce the following myositis research projects were awarded funding this month by the TMA’s Medical Advisory Board for funding:
- A grant to Harvard neurologist Dr. Steven Greenberg for a “Pilot study of CD8 T-cell imaging with 89Zr-Df-IAB22m2C in IBM.” This is a novel imaging agent that has been shown to be effective in monitoring immune system activity during cancer treatment. Dr. Greenberg hopes this new agent will provide a means for monitoring similar immune activity in patients with IBM.
- A grant to rheumatologist Dr. Lisa Christopher-Stine, Director of the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center, for the project “The gut and skin microbiota in patients with DM.” The microbiome is increasingly being recognized as an important influence in a wide range of diseases, especially autoimmune conditions. Dr. Christopher-Stine hopes to begin an exploration of the significance of the microbiome in myositis patients by identifying organisms commonly occurring in dermatomyositis patients.
- A post-doctoral fellowship grant to geneticist Dr. Johanna Parkes for the project “Role of innate immune and metabolic pathways in mediating muscle weakness in myositis.” Dr. Parkes hopes to identify specific areas of cell metabolism that may be related to chronic muscle weakness in patients with myositis. Dr. Parkes is working with TMA medical advisor Dr. Kanneboyina Nagaraju at SUNY Binghamton.
About TMA’s Research Funding Program
Myositis is a rare autoimmune disease of the muscles that causes severe pain and weakness, debilitating skin rashes, scarring of the lungs, and other life-threatening symptoms. This chronic, disabling condition is a challenge to diagnose, is difficult or impossible to treat, and has no cure.
The myositis patient’s best hope for relief from this devastating disease lies in research. Each year, TMA provides research funding in support of the goal of developing a better understanding of myositis diseases, developing better treatments and, ultimately, finding a cure for all forms of myositis.
TMA offers funding for research into all types of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. Funding is offered for Mentored Research Fellowships designed to help promising junior investigators (MDs and PhDs) who have demonstrated a commitment to the field of myositis or related fields. Pilot Project Grants are also offered to fund new and innovative research projects that are expected to attract future funding from other sources such as the NIH.
Funds for TMA’s Research Funding Program come primarily from myositis patients, their families, and friends. Each year, proposals are sought for basic and applied research projects as well as applications for fellowships from young scientists who have an interest in a career studying myositis. Based on recommendations from TMA’s Medical Advisory Board of international myositis experts, TMA’s Board of Directors chooses the most promising of these proposals to fund.
Myositis researchers are invited to submit applications during TMA’s grant cycle as follows:
- Spring – Request for proposals announced
- Mid-May – Letter of intent deadline
- Mid-June – Proposal deadline
- Early October – Announcement of grants awarded
More information about TMA’s Research Funding opportunities is available here: https://www.myositis.org/research/tma-grants-fellowships/research-funding-opportunities/
About The Myositis Association
The Myositis Association is an international nonprofit organization committed to support and education for myositis patients and caregivers, increasing awareness of myositis throughout the community and among physicians, and funding for myositis-related research.
Journalists are invited to seek additional information about myositis at www.myositis.org. For photos, or to set up an interview, please contact Research and Communications Director Linda Kobert at 434-882-2189 or email [email protected].
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