Program areas at SSF
The Sjogren's Foundation awarded three research grants, under the annual Sjogren's Foundation grant program, to university affiliated researchers in may 2023. Two pilot awards were granted and one high impact award. The Foundation also expanded their research policies to include a dynamic grant policy and awarded Oklahoma medical research Foundation a grant to expand their genome research project. Work in the biomarker's consortium and the fnih amp aim research on biomarkers in autoimmune diseases continues.the Sjogren's Foundation also worked closely with multiple pharma companies to prepare for, and bring, phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials forward. The Foundation supported these programs by conferring with companies on designing successful trials and presenting information to patients about clinical trials and enrollment.
Awareness activities, such as media public relations, help the general public, patients, and family members become familiar with Sjogren's and understand that it is a serious and systemic autoimmune disease. Professional awareness activities engage key healthcare providers and specialists to understand Sjogren's disease and to recognize the many manifestations of the disease in order to care for patients. In 2023, the Foundation doubled its attendance of hcps to our state of Sjogren's professional conference and expanded our outreach of specialties to include neurologists. We continue to advance our relationships with clinicians, researchers, government scientists and corporate scientists who are interested in the field of sjogren's. Additionally, the Foundation continued partnering with cme companies to present more solutions to educate healthcare providers.
Newsletter - the Foundation produces two newsletters. "conquering sjogren's" is a patient focused newsletter with information about Sjogren's and its many manifestations. Cs is produced bi-monthly. The "sjogren's quarterly" is a professional publication produced 4 times a year and offered free to all healthcare professionals to increase awareness and education around sjogren's.
Other programs within the Foundation include strategic governance projects, conferences and meetings related to topics relevant to those with sjogren's, as well as various industry and membership projects and services for those with Sjogren's or entities providing support to those individuals.