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 Career Development Research Awards aim to motivate early and mid-career investigators to engage in research that seeks to understand, prevent, and treat rheumatic diseases, amidst the decrease in federal funding for rheumatology research. The Scientist Development Award targets individuals at the onset of their careers, like Fellows or those with minimal research experience, planning to specialize in rheumatology. It provides financial support for both the investigator's salary and research or educational expenses, facilitating a structured research training program under the mentorship of established rheumatology researchers. This grant aims to create more qualified investigators in rheumatology by affording young scientists the opportunity for focused research, thereby making them competitive for further career development awards. The award amount can reach up to $75,000 per year for a maximum of $225,000. Membership in the ACR or ARP is a requirement for application.