Arthritis Research in Northern California

January 28, 2008

The Arthritis Foundation is a major supporter of arthritis research being conducted at Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco. We contribute nearly $1.5 million annually to these research efforts in the form of individual grants and institutional grants.

Located within the boundaries of the Arthritis Foundation, Northern California Chapter's territory, are two of the premiere arthritis research institutions in the United States: Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco. Scientists at both of these facilities include nationally and internationally renowned arthritis researchers who have played major roles in developing some of the breakthrough treatments for arthritis we have witnessed in the last few years.

The Arthritis Foundation is a major supporter of the arthritis research being conducted at both of these institutions. We contribute nearly $1.5 million annually to these research efforts in the form of individual grants and institutional grants. This is only a part of what the Arthritis Foundation contributes to research at institutions throughout the US. All of these funds support research that we hope will eventually lead to the prevention, control, and cure of arthritis and related diseases.

Occasionally, the Arthritis Foundation conducts research tours for members of its Living Legacy Society and Annual Fund supporters. To find out how you can participate in these tours, contact Terry Byrnes or call 800.464.6240.  Also, the Arthritis Foundation invites you to consider joining the ranks of our research advocates.

Arthritis Foundation Research Funds Are
Well-Spent at Stanford and UCSF

Osteoarthritis Research

Tamara Alliston, PhD and Rik Derynck, PhD of UCSF have found that maturation of osteoblasts (cells responsible for bone formation) and bone matrix properties are regulated by TGF-B.  This is important to people with OA because the regulation of osteoblast and osteoclast (cells responsible for bone breakdown) function is altered in OA, resulting in bony overgrowth within joints (commonly called bone spurs).  Understanding this dysregulation can lead to treatments to prevent this bony overgrowth.

Jae-Beom Kim, PhD of UCSF is working to understand the molecular and cellular foundation of the bone growth that takes place after a total joint replacement.  It is this bone growth that integrates the impant with the surrounding bone and tissues, and affects whether the joint replacement is a success or failure.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Research

William H. Robinson, MD, PhD and Paul J. Utz, MD of Stanford University and colleagues have tested the cancer drug imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) to treat a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis.  They found the drug was able to both prevent the onset of arthritis and treat existing arthritis in these mice.  These results open the door for testing imatinib mesylate in humans with RA.

Juvenile Arthritis Research

Imelda Balboni, MD, PhD of Stanford University is using microarray technology to study the autoantibodies found in children with pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pediatric lupus).  In particular, she is comparing the autoantibodies made by patients with and without kidney involvement, one of the most common and severe manifestations of pediatric lupus.  With this information, scientists will be able to develop more specific and less toxic therapies for children with lupus.