Rheumatology Research Foundation

FOUNDATION PROGRAMS SUPPORT RESEARCH INVESTIGATING THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, INCLUDING but not limited to: JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS, OSTEOARTHRITIS, PEDIATRIC SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, SCLERODERMA, SPONDYLOARTHROPATHIES, SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS, AND VASCULITIS. PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE O FOR A CONTINUATION OF PROGRAM SERVICES. THE RHEUMATOLOGY RESEARCH FOUNDATION MAINTAINS AN EXTENSIVE AWARDS AND GRANTS PORTFOLIO, WITH 23 SUPPORT MECHANISMS FOR RHEUMATOLOGISTS AND RHEUMATOLOGY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THE U.S. EACH GRANT APPLICATION CONTAINS VERY SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY AND REVIEW CRITERIA (DETAILS REGARDING THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.RHEUMRESEARCH.ORG). ALL APPLICATIONS UNDERGO RIGOROUS PEER REVIEW IN THEIR ASSIGNED STUDY SECTION, AND ARE SCORED AND RANKED ACCORDING TO THE REVIEW CRITERIA AND OVERALL MERIT OF THE PROPOSAL. ALL STUDY SECTION RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SENT TO THE FOUNDATION'S SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR QUALIFICATION BEFORE BEING PRESENTED (BLINDED) TO THE FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR FINAL APPROVAL. AFTER THE AWARDS ARE MADE, ALL RECIPIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE FUNDING CONTRACTS WITH INSTITUTIONAL SIGN-OFF, AND MUST ALSO SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORTS ON THEIR PROGRESS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION AND ASSURANCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH FOUNDATION POLICIES (AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE). ALL REPORTS ARE REVIEWED BY THE FOUNDATION'S SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH PROGRAMMATIC, SCIENTIFIC, FISCAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE POLICES AND REQUIREMENTS. IF A RECIPIENT IS FOUND TO BE IN COMPLIANCE AND MAKING REASONABLE PROGRESS (I.E., MEETING PROJECT BENCHMARKS), THE NEXT YEAR OF FUNDING IS APPROVED FOR DISBURSEMENT. IF NOT, THE AWARD MAY BE TERMINATED. SUCH PROGRAMMATIC OVERSIGHT ALLOWS FOR EXCELLENT STEWARDSHIP OF FOUNDATION FUNDS. IN ADDITION TO REGULAR OVERSIGHT AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, PORTFOLIO REVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED EVERY FIVE YEARS TO ENSURE THAT FUNDING MECHANISMS ARE EFFECTIVELY MEETING THE FOUNDATION'S GOALS OUTLINED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN. IN ADDITION, THE RHEUMATOLOGY RESEARCH FOUNDATION ABIDES BY THE FOLLOWING CONFLICT OF INTEREST GUIDELINES: GUIDELINES FOR AWARDING OF FOUNDATION AWARDS AND GRANTS I. THE COLLEGE WILL NOT PERMIT ANY EXTERNAL ENTITIES TO SELECT (OR INFLUENCE THE SELECTION OF) RECIPIENTS OF FOUNDATION AWARDS OR GRANTS. II. THE COLLEGE WILL APPOINT INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES TO SELECT RECIPIENTS OF FOUNDATION AWARDS OR GRANTS BASED ON PEER REVIEW OF GRANT APPLICATIONS. III. THE COLLEGE WILL NOT REQUIRE RECIPIENTS OF FOUNDATION AWARDS OR GRANTS TO MEET WITH EXTERNAL ENTITIES. IV. THE COLLEGE WILL NOT PERMIT ANY EXTERNAL ENTITY THAT SUPPORTS FOUNDATION AWARDS OR GRANTS TO REQUIRE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OR ROYALTIES ARISING OUT OF THE GRANT-FUNDED RESEARCH. V. THE COLLEGE WILL NOT PERMIT ANY EXTERNAL ENTITY THAT SUPPORTS FOUNDATION AWARDS OR GRANTS TO CONTROL OR INFLUENCE MANUSCRIPTS THAT ARISE FROM THE GRANT-FUNDED RESEARCH. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES FUNDING TO HELP RECRUIT STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS INTO THE SUBSPECIALTY AND SUPPORTS INVESTIGATORS AND PRACTITIONERS WORKING IN THE FIELD OF RHEUMATOLOGY. GRANTS ARE AWARDED FOR DIFFERENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, FROM UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TO ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATORS, BUILDING A MORE CAPABLE, ROBUST TEAM OF RHEUMATOLOGY PROFESSIONALS AROUND THE NATION. IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, RESEARCHERS RECEIVING FOUNDATION FUNDING HAVE PUBLISHED 463 PAPERS, RECEIVED $122.5M IN RELATED NIH FUNDING AND GIVEN 97 SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS ON THEIR PROJECTS WORLDWIDE. THE FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVANCING TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASE AND IS THE LARGEST PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCE OF RHEUMATOLOGY RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN THE UNITED STATES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS RECEIVED A 4-STAR RATING, THE HIGHEST OFFERED BY CHARITY NAVIGATOR, FOR SIXTEEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS BASED ON GOOD GOVERNANCE, SOUND FISCAL MANAGEMENT, AND COMMITMENT TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. THE ORGANIZATION HAS COMMITTED OVER $232M DIRECTLY TO RESEARCH AND TRAINING SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1985 BY THE GRANTING OF 4,690 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS.