ATLANTA, Feb. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Arthritis Foundation has announced that 11 scientists were selected out of 167 proposals as the 2015 Scientific Discovery Awardees for their innovations toward finding a cure for arthritis and related diseases. This is the Foundation’s first request for proposals (RFP) with revised eligibility criteria to include anyone who can provide bold, new ideas that accelerate the scientific discovery process toward a cure for the more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the U.S. living with arthritis.
“The Arthritis Foundation is focused on finding a cure and championing the fight against arthritis with life-changing science and support,” says Ann M. Palmer, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. “Those with arthritis are depending on the Arthritis Foundation to foster a scientific discovery environment that thrives on innovative solutions.”
A major differentiator for the 2015 selection process, funded projects were required to demonstrate a clear interdisciplinary pathway to viability in the marketplace. The awards include innovative proposals such as using “smart nanosomes” (small packets that enclose drugs) to directly target drugs to damaged cartilage; a study on whether endotoxins contribute to knee osteoarthritis progression; and the use of next-generation ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing in order to create a diagnostic test for rheumatoid arthritis.
The awardees are:
Beeton, Christine | Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX | Targeting KCa1.1 channels in synoviocytes for the treatment of RA | $386,587 Duration 2016-2019 |
Cho, Hongsik | The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN | A Novel Method of Detecting and Treating in Early PTOA Using Smart Nanosome | $270,000 Duration 2016-2018 |
Kraus, Virginia | Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC | The Role of Low-Grade Endotoxemia in Osteoarthritis | $411,062 Duration 2016-2018 |
Kriegel, Martin | Yale University, New Haven, CT | Commensal Prokaryotic Ro60 Orthologs as Causal Triggers for Lupus | $344,581 Duration 2016-2019 |
Lefebvre, Veronique | Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH | Quality-by-Design approach to create articular cartilage from pluripotency | $318,774 Duration 2016 |
Martin, James | The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA | Engineering Endogenous Cartilage Repair | $961,381 Duration 2016-2019 |
Sampen, Hee-Jeong Im | Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL | Dysregulation of Circadian Rhythm and Osteoarthritis | $500,000 Duration 2016-2019 |
Stein, Michael | Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN | Extracellular small RNAs in rheumatoid arthritis - Delivering on Discovery | $1,350,000 Duration 2016-2021 |
Sun, Hui | Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University | A novel formulation for OA prevention and treatment | $216,000 Duration 2016-2018 |
Wimmer, Markus | Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL | Augmented Feedback Using Pressure Detecting Insoles to Reduce Knee Loading | $311,740 Duration 2016-2018 |
Yeung, Rae | The Hospital for Sick Children; Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) | Precision Decisions to STOP-JIA | $385,000 Duration 2016 |
The Arthritis Foundation is now accepting proposals for 2016 scientific discovery awards. Interested investigators should submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by Feb. 22. More information can be found at http://www.arthritis.org/arthritis-cure/funding-opportunities/.
About the Arthritis Foundation:
The Arthritis Foundation is the Champion of Yes. Leading the fight for the arthritis community, the Foundation helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science and community connections. The Arthritis Foundation’s goal is to chart a winning course, guiding families in developing personalized plans for living a full life and making each day another stride towards a cure. The Foundation also publishes Arthritis Today, the award-winning magazine that reaches 4 million readers per issue.
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SOURCE Arthritis Foundation
