The Arthritis Foundation is the largest private, nonprofit funder of arthritis research in the world.  Since 1948, over $450 million has been invested to fund research in all areas of arthritis and its related diseases. During 2011 alone, more than $14 million was committed to new and ongoing projects.  The Foundation’s investment has led to critical discoveries that shape the direction of arthritis research and has given mobility back to countless adults and children fighting unacceptable limitations. 

The Southeast Region is deeply committed to advancing the national strategic research agenda in order to fund the best possible research that ultimately cures this disease.  We are proud to have several ongoing projects funded through our research programs being spearheaded within our six-state area.  They include:

Dr. Monica Brown, University of Tennessee

Study: Cytokine Regulation of Dermal Fibroblasts in Scleroderma 

Dr. Anne Eliza Eyler, Vanderbilt University

Study: Harnessing Electronic Medical Records for Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dr. Andres Garcia, Georgia Institute of Technology

Study: IL-1Ra-Tethered Nanoparticles to Treat Joint Inflammation and OA

Dr. Jun Li, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham

Study: DR5 glycosylation mediates apoptosis resistance in RA synovial fibroblasts

Dr. Iris Navarro-Milan, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham

Study: Coronary Heart Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dr. Michael Stein, Vanderbilt University

Study: Inflammation and the Heart

Dr. Kai Yang, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Study: Modulation of S1P/S1P1 signaling in autoimmune diseases

Find out more about our national research program.