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Help end the suffering of 46 million Americans with arthritis. We fund scientists at major research facilities and universities nationwide seeking new treatments and a cure for arthritis.
Why do we exist?
One in three American adults suffers from some form of arthritis. That's over 66 million Americans and the Baby Boomers aren't getting any younger. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, fibromyalgia and juvenile arthritis. The estimated annual cost in terms of treatment, lost wages due to absenteeism from work and disability is $83 billion! Better therapies will translate into pain relief for people and health care savings in the long-term.
The Arthritis National Research Foundation wants to find more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for arthritis. The answers will be found in research. ANRF provides research grants to scientists across the country studying the underlying mechanisms of arthritic diseases. The work involving the immune system may be translated to many different autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, MS, type 1 diabetes, etc. Investigators funded by ANRF are young doctor-scientists at the beginning of their independent research careers. With ANRF's help, these scientists are able to gather the research data needed to reach the next step in their careers: permanent funding and academic position. Young scientists obtain their Ph.D. and/or M.D. degrees and embark on several years of post-doctoral experience. Some work with patients, some work at the laboratory bench, some may do both. They generally receive support through the university or non-profit hospital in the form of a post-doctoral fellowship. Fast forward several years post-doc and we have a still-young investigator with a cutting-edge research idea. The scientist has a top laboratory's equipment and collaborative personnel at his/her disposal. But, this scientist has no funding to support their own salary, supplies and/or technicians to help with the project. Enter ANRF. Our one- or two-year grant award gives this top scientist the financial boost needed to gather the scientific data required for the more permanent grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). ANRF steps in to help at this critical time between post-doc and independence.
What have you accomplished?
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