The Rheumatology Research Foundation's mission is to advance research and training to improve the health of patients living with rheumatic disease. Through funding research, the Foundation aims to lead to a future with more options for patients to live longer, healthier lives. It also funds training and mentorship for medical students and fellows to expand the workforce of specially trained rheumatology professionals.
The foundation awards grants aimed at encouraging early and mid-career investigators to pursue research into the cause, prevention, and treatment of rheumatic diseases. This is in response to decreasing federal funding and the aim to foster a future with more treatment options for these conditions. The grants support innovative research projects and also provide training and mentorship opportunities for medical students and fellows to bolster the number of practicing rheumatologists and improve patient access to specialized care. Specifically, the Career Development Research Awards and the Career Development Bridge Funding Award: R Bridge aim to support investigators at risk of running out of research funding or those revising outstanding NIH R01 or VA RCS/ORD award applications, with award amounts up to $200,000 for a duration of 2 years.