National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

In her latest message, NIAMS Director Lindsey A. Criswell honors the work and contributions of our Deputy Director Bob Carter and Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives Susana Serrate-Sztein, who are both set to retire. Read the director’s letter and watch Dr. Carter and Dr. Serrate-Sztein discuss their careers: 

News: #NIAMSfunded researchers from the University of Pittsburgh may have found a potential treatment for inflammatory skin diseases such as rosacea and eczema. Led by Dr. Daniel Kaplan, the team looked at mast cells, which contribute to inflammation in skin diseases. They discovered that a compound known as SYM2081 inhibited mast cell activation in both mouse and human models – and suggest that mast cell suppression could be leveraged to create a daily topical cream to prevent these skin conditions. Read more from the University of Pittsburgh: https://lnkd.in/eN5kX5JR

Will my grant application be affected by NIAMS’ three R01-equivalent threshold? Learn more about how this policy works, what the exceptions are, and other related questions in these new FAQs: https://go.nih.gov/bbutZnw

Finally, I can say that I am a published author. It was a long time coming, but I’m very happy to be able to share the work I did while at National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). It turns out that chromatin organization is an important regulator of type 2 cytokine production in asthma/allergies. Go check it out!

Our Scientific Summer Internship Program is accepting applications for 2025! This program provides students who are contemplating a career in biomedical research or academic medicine with an opportunity to work side by side with some of the leading scientists in the nation, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research. Learn about eligibility requirements and details on how to apply here: https://lnkd.in/dE7BMDXK The application period will close February 19, 2025, at 12 noon ET.

Researchers think certain common viruses may trigger some autoimmune conditions—alone or in concert with other factors. A recent NIH Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (OADR)-Office of Research on Women’s Health Science Talks series focused on understanding the triggers of autoimmunity and advancing research. In a presentation focusing on lupus, Dr. Judith James of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation described how some combination of genetics, immune regulation and the environment work together to form an endotype for each autoimmune disease patient. Read more from the NIH Record: https://lnkd.in/evSZVDja

The December 2024 Community Outreach Bulletin is out now! Learn about our recently updated NIAMS Health Topics, how to apply to our Scientific Summer Internship Program, and more featured resources, opportunities, news, and events. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/e9aRkhz4

We are pleased to announce #RareDiseaseDay 2025 will take place on Feb. 27­­–28, 2025! This year we will co-host with the FDA. Stay tuned for more information about #RDDatFDANIH! https://go.nih.gov/ry9Wbby

“Glucocorticoids exist naturally. They are hormones that are produced by our bodies ... those chemicals have many, many roles in biology and the one that is sort of best understood is that they are part of the stress response.” - NIAMS’ Dr. Luis Franco, during his interview on the Healthy Skin Show podcast. In the episode, he breaks down the topical steroids known as glucocorticoids, which are used to treat chronic skin conditions. Watch, listen, or read the transcript here: https://lnkd.in/eBnNhMMJ #NationalHealthySkinMonth (Note: Dr. Franco spoke in his official capacity on his glucocorticoid research. The Government is not affiliated with any endorsements that may appear on the podcast or its website.)

Janet Church long endured bouts of exhaustion, severe headaches, and difficulty functioning. After seeing a string of doctors over several months, she was eventually referred to a rheumatologist where she was finally diagnosed with Sjögren's disease, an autoimmune condition with numerous debilitating symptoms. Watch this video to hear more about her journey and how the Accelerating Medicines Partnership® (AMP®) Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases (AIM) program is tackling this health challenge: https://lnkd.in/emEk3J_F