The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) and the Arthritis Foundation announce more than $1.1 million in research funding for childhood rheumatic diseases
Washington, DC/Atlanta, GA, July 13, 2022 – The Arthritis Foundation in partnership with the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA), today announced funding awards to eight CARRA investigators totaling $1,122,755 to conduct research aimed at improving outcomes in childhood rheumatic diseases, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis, the most common form of arthritis diagnosed in children.
The Arthritis Foundation estimates there are nearly 300,000 children and teens with arthritis in the United States. Childhood-onset rheumatic diseases include different types of arthritis and other rheumatic and inflammatory diseases that develop in children and teens. The National Juvenile Arthritis Conference starts in-person tomorrow, July 14, in Orlando, FL.
For the first time, the CARRA-Arthritis Foundation grants program is supporting Career Development Awards to junior faculty as well as an Implementation Science Testing Grant. The CARRA-Arthritis Foundation awards portfolio funds research that positively impacts the pediatric rheumatology scientific community, improves treatment strategies for pediatric rheumatological diseases and their implementation and advances the missions of CARRA and the Arthritis Foundation.
The Career Development Awards aim to define the immunological mechanisms that underpin Macrophage Activation Syndrome, as well as to better understand how depression symptoms in young adults with lupus impacts their care. The Implementation Science Testing Grant will build on what was learned during an earlier Implementation Science Design Grant. The project team will utilize six CARRA centers to test an intervention aimed at helping pediatric rheumatologists optimize care for children with lupus. Other awards will employ cutting-edge genomic techniques to evaluate patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and create computer algorithms using information contained within electronic health records to easily identify which patients have rheumatic conditions such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis and lupus.
“We are extremely pleased and excited to fund these awards with the Arthritis Foundation, including our new Career Development Awards given to two highly deserving individuals with outstanding promise as investigators,” said Robert Colbert, MD, PhD, President of CARRA.
“The Arthritis Foundation is very proud to have partnered with CARRA since 2002 to improve the lives of children with rheumatological diseases,” said Steven Taylor, President and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. “The current slate of awards builds on these investments while also supporting junior rheumatology investigators through Career Development Awards at a critical stage of their career.”
Note to editors: See attached for listing of grant awardees and their respective institution media contacts.
About Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA)
Formed in 2002, CARRA’s mission is to conduct collaborative research to prevent, treat, and cure pediatric rheumatic diseases. CARRA is a 501(c)3 registered non-profit organization. For more information, please visit https://carragroup.org/.
About the Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation is fighting for all people who live with arthritis. As a Champion of Yes, it's the Arthritis Foundation's mission to turn the obstacles arthritis causes into opportunities. The Arthritis Foundation champions life-changing solutions and medical advancements, and it also provides ways for people to connect, break down barriers in health care and join the fight for a cure — uniting hearts, minds and resources to change the future of arthritis. To join the fight to cure arthritis, visit https://www.arthritis.org/.