Research In Action

Research is the key to unlocking the mysteries of arthritis. Greater understanding of what causes these diseases and how they progress will inevitably lead to improved treatments and, ultimately, cures. Since its founding in 1948, The Arthritis Society has been the largest non-government funder of basic and applied arthritis research (more than $170M), which has led to significant breakthroughs in the diagnosis, treatments, and care of patients with arthritis.

This year, The Arthritis Society continues to invest $3.4 million towards our Research and Career Development Program and regional research initiatives.

Of course, that investment could not be made without the commitment and generous contributions of individual donors, corporate partners and foundations across Canada -- people who understand the importance of research in the battle against arthritis and its impact on the nearly 4.5 million Canadians forced to live with arthritis. To learn more about how we invested those hard-earned dollars, please read the summaries below and follow the links to more in-depth information about these initiatives.

The focal points for Canada's treatment and research programs are the Arthritis Centres (AC) (all academic rheumatology divisions in Canada). These Centres provide exemplary patient care, high standards of graduate and undergraduate teaching, and excellent opportunities for clinical and basic science research. Learn more...

The Arthritis Society has made a commitment to the Canadian Arthritis Network to assist in the training of young investigators: Graduate Students, Research Fellows, and Research Scholars. The Network allows young arthritis researchers to access and acquire combined expertise in basic science, clinical research, product service and development, and industrial partnering. Trainees can collaborate with leading investigators in a networked environment, exposing them to the broad diversity of scientific disciplines involved in arthritis research. Learn more...

We want to encourage medical students to choose rheumatology as their future specialty. One way to do this is to expose them to charismatic teachers — people who will be mentors, positive role models and capable of motivating students to choose rheumatology as a career. The role of the Clinician Teacher/Educator is to increase the profile of rheumatology within undergraduate and postgraduate medical school curricula in order to enhance recruitment of physicians into rheumatology training programs and eventual placement in academic Arthritis Centres and community practice in Canada. Learn more...

When an individual has completed a university science degree and is enrolled in a PhD program, they can apply for a training grant so they will have an income while they are studying with a supervisor to become independent researchers. There are research training programs across the country at each of Canada’s medical schools, as well as a number of research institutes. The initial training requires a minimum of two years. The Arthritis Society supports Research Fellowship awards to encourage individuals to pursue careers in arthritis research. The Arthritis Society provides Research Fellowships to PhD students and medical doctors (MDs) wishing to study research in areas relating to arthritis. Learn more...

The New Investigator award is offered for what will be the investigator’s first opportunity, upon completion of training, to develop and demonstrate their ability to initiate and carry out independent research, unhampered by the necessity of carrying out the full teaching and administration duties expected of a regular member of the university staff. New Investigator awards are made to provide some salary support to people starting their research career. To be considered, they must spend at least 75 % of their time doing research, which this award allows them to do. The award is granted for a period of 5 years. Learn more...

The Arthritis Society gives this award to individuals who have now become established investigators, with a strong track record in obtaining independent operating grants from granting agencies. These individuals are now responsible for supervising PhD students (research fellows) in addition to conducting their own independent research in academic centres throughout Canada and have developed a reputation for excellence in research. Learn more...

This most senior of The Arthritis Society’s salary awards, is granted only under exceptional circumstances and provides salary support for mid-career individuals. These Investigators have international reputations for excellence, have made outstanding contributions to arthritis research, and have demonstrated leadership in helping The Society achieve its objectives. These individuals ensure that there is a strong mentoring environment for trainees and the arthritis leaders of the future. Learn more...

These National Research Initiatives, the cornerstone of the Society’s new research strategic plan, are intended to support multi/trans-disciplinary teams of investigators who are tackling comprehensive questions relating to various priorities of arthritis research. These teams are comprised of basic and clinical scientists, clinicians, consumers and other health care professionals. The priority for the first two National Research Initiatives (NRIs) are in the areas related to inflammatory joint diseases; specifically – rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and spondyloarthritis. Learn more...

The Arthritis Society also supports arthritis research and training centres, namely, the Arthritis Research Centre (ARC) of Canada in Vancouver, BC, and the Arthritis Centre of Excellence (ACE) in Toronto at the University Health Network (University of Toronto). Learn more...

In an effort to support and nurture the number of rheumatology fellows in Canada, as well as to attract future medical students into the therapeutic area, UCB Pharma Canada Inc. has recently partnered with the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) and The Arthritis Society (The Society) to introduce the Postgraduate Rheumatology Fellowship Award Program. These awards will provide complete funding over the course of two years to clinical or clinical research trainees who are completing a fellowship in rheumatology. Learn more...

This page was last reviewed/updated on : 03/25/2010