Annual Report

The Rheumatology Research Foundation is a charitable 501(c)3 organization dedicated to advancing research and training to improve the health of people with rheumatic disease. The 2018 Annual Report is based on activities during Fiscal Year 2018 (July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018)
Committed
to funding $9,970,750
 
 
 

Awards

 
165 awards granted
25

Research Awards

24

Fellowship Training Awards

2

Clinical Scholar Educator

5

Pediatric Visiting Professorships

25

Annual Meeting Awards

32

Annual Meeting Scholarships

46

Preceptorships

6

Health Professional Online Grants

 
Awardees are using their funding to investigate the following diseases:
  • Gout
  • Inflammatory arthritis
  • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Scleroderma
  • Sjögren’s syndrome
  • Spondyloarthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Systemic sclerosis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Studies could reduce the impact rheumatic diseases have on the:
  • Brain
  • Eyes
  • Mouth
  • Shoulders
  • Spine
  • Lungs
  • Heart
  • Hips
  • Knees
  • Skin
  • Joints
  • Cardiovascular system
 
 
 
 
Research investigates factors that might cause or worsen rheumatic diseases, including:
  • Genetics
  • Epigenetics
  • Immune dysfunction
  • Cell characteristics
  • Joint features
  • Gut microbiota
  • Diet
  • Chemical exposure
  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • Prior injuries
 
81 institutions in
29 states received
funding from the Foundation.
 
 
 
57 medical students and residents received funding to attend the Annual Meeting, encouraging them to choose rheumatology as their specialty.
 
 
 
 
Annual Meeting Scholarships provide funding to attend the ACR/ARP Annual Meeting to students and residents in states underserved by rheumatology.
  • Arizona
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Mississippi
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Washington

Project
Outcomes

Based on 38 final reports

Recipients shared the following research outcomes as a result of Foundation funding:
 
 
24

Defined New Pathways

5

New Cell Lines Developed

4

New Animal Models

9

Novel Gene Signatures

13

New Drug Targets

10

Better Diagnostic Tests

11

New Biomarkers

2

Drugs in Preclinical Testing

3

Novel Educational Products Developed

9

New Epidemiologic Findings

17

New Collaborative Networks

6

New Patient Databanks

11

New Insights into Clinical Associations

 

Career
Outcomes

Based on 38 final reports

There are 125 peer-reviewed publications either published or are in the process of being published regarding Foundation funded projects.
 
 
 
 
 
  •  

    of recipients (n=22) have gone on to receive additional funding for their projects, while many others are in the process of applying for additional funding. • This includes institutional awards, NIH awards, DoD awards and awards from other private foundations.

  •  

    of recipients (n=7) received an advanced degree during their award period.

  •  

    of recipients (n=21) received a promotion during their award period.

Recipients have presented their Foundation funded work 173 times.
 
 
 
 

New
in FY2018

• Implementation of two new award mechanisms:
  • • Fellowship Training Award for Workforce Expansion
  • • Rheumatology Future Physician Scientist Award
• Creation of Mentored Nurse Practitioner/ Physician Assistant Award for Workforce Expansion

Supporters

The generosity of our supporters is integral to our mission. Without the invaluable contributions of the rheumatology community, family members and friends, and the Corporate Roundtable, we could not spearhead the effort to end rheumatic disease.
 
 
 
Thank you to the members of the Corporate Roundtable
Leadership
Principal
Partner
Executive
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Thank you to the donors whose support was vital to Foundation programming!
34 Organizations
403 Patients, family members and friends
1072 Rheumatology community

Board of
Directors

 
 
 
Abby Abelson, MD
President
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
S. Louis Bridges Jr., MD, PhD
Vice President
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Kenneth Saag, MD, MSc
Secretary
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
David R. Karp, MD, PhD
Treasurer
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Bryce Binstadt, MD, PhD
Chair, Scientific Advisory Council
University of Minnesota
Stuart Kassan, MD
Chair, Development Advisory Council
Colorado Arthritis Associates
Erin Arnold, MD
Member-at-Large
Orthopedics and Rheumatology of the N. Shore
Norman B. Gaylis, MD
Member-at-Large
Arthritis & Rheumatic Disease Specialties
Jon Giles, MD, MPH
Member-at-Large
Columbia University
Beverly Guin
Member-at-Large
Elizabeth McKelvey
Member-at-Large
William Rigby, MD
Member-at-Large
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Steve Russell, MBA
Member-at-Large
Teresa Tarrant, MD
Member-at-Large
Beth Jonas, MD
ACR Workforce and Training Representative
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Anne-Marie Malfait, MD, PhD
ACR Research Representative
Rush University Medical Center
Daniel White, PT, ScD, MSc
ARP Representative
University of Delaware
William Reiss, PharmD
CRT Representative
Genentech, Inc.
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
Paula Marchetta, MD, MBA
ACR President
Concorde Medical Group, PLLC
Ellen Gravallese, MD
ACR President-Elect
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Hazel Breland, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, CLA
ARP President
Medical University of South Carolina
Mary Wheatley, IOM, CAE
Executive Director
 
This reflects the board members at the time of publication.

Financials

Rheumatology research and training is at the forefront of everything we do. Our high level of fiscal responsibility ranks us among the top 2% of charities in the nation and allows us to focus on what is most important: finding a cure.
 

  • Programs

  • Administration

  • Development

Charity Navigator is the nation’s largest charity evaluator, providing the Foundation with its highest rating of four stars for the 10th consecutive year!
All content © Rheumatology Research Foundation