The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is the professional organization
of rheumatologists and associated health professionals who share a dedication
to healing, preventing disability, and curing the more than 100 types
of arthritis and related disabling and sometimes fatal disorders of the
joints, muscles, and bones. Members include practicing physicians, research
scientists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists,
and social workers.
The purpose of the Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology
Research Alliance (CARRA) is to create a robust multicenter organization
that can support clinical trials and clinical research in childhood arthritis
and pediatric rheumatology. Both investigator-initiated and industry
sponsored trials would be performed by this network. This network would
expand and build upon the experience of the current clinical trials network
in pediatric rheumatology, the Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study
Group.
The Cure JM Foundation was established in October 2003 with the goal
of raising awareness of this rare disease and funding research to find
a cure for Juvenile Myositis, including Juvenile Dermatomyositis and
Juvenile Polymyositis.
The Environmental Autoimmunity Group (EAG) conducts a broad program
of clinical and basic investigation in the area of adult and pediatric
autoimmune diseases. The EAG uses multidisciplinary approaches to understand
the roles of genetic and environmental risk factors for these diseases.
We are currently focusing investigations on the Systemic Rheumatic Diseases.
The mission of the National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is to support research into the causes, treatment,
and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases, the
training of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this research,
and the dissemination of information on research progress in these diseases.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the United
States. Its mission is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about
the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that
knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and
disability.
The Paediatric Rheumatology International
Trials Organisation (PRINTO) is an international network aimed to foster, facilitate and conduct
high quality research in the field of paediatric rheumatology.
The mission of The Myositis Association (TMA) is to find a cure for inflammatory
and other related myopathies, while serving those affected by these diseases.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring
the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological
products, medical devices, our nation?s food supply, cosmetics, and products
that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public
health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods
more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get
the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and
foods to improve their health.
An excellent educational resource for physicians detailing the differential
diagnoses of the myopathies with useful clinical and pathologic descriptions
of many neuromuscular diseases.