Funding Opportunities

Application deadline has passed for the 2013 funding cycle

The Arthritis Foundation Research Program seeks to maximize the impact of its research investment by focusing in three principle disease areas - Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Juvenile Arthritis. The Foundation supports high-quality, peer-reviewed research in these targeted areas.

The Arthritis Foundation is pleased to announce our 2013 Research Program, which is designed to meet our constituents’ demand for more effective treatments and a cure for their arthritis. Driving the world’s arthritis research agenda by developing and supporting specialized, targeted research initiatives to push us toward cures in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile arthritis is not enough. To harness the innovation and creativity of the most talented scientists across the country, we also offer investigator-initiated grants that empower scientists to study enterprising new ideas that could lead to the miracle drugs of the future. Our two investigator-initiated research grants accepting applications this year are the:

• Innovative Research Grant
• Arthritis Foundation Investigator Awardthis year

 As part of our overall Research Program planning, we are rebalancing our portfolio of grants, and will focus on senior investigators and directed initiatives in 2013. We will continue to fund our 92 previously awarded  young investigators and training grantees through the end of their grant periods.

Innovative Research Grant

$100,000 per year up to 2 years

The purpose of the Arthritis Foundation's Innovative Research Grant (IRG) initiative is to broaden the base of inquiry in fundamental biomedical science, clinical science and bio-behavioral research with relevance to osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and juvenile arthritis (JA). The ultimate goal of the program is to improve the lives of people touched by these diseases. We encourage applications for research proposals that involve an especially high degree of innovation and novelty and therefore, require a preliminary test of feasibility.

View   Application deadline has passed

Please review the Program Guidelines for full description 

  Arthritis Foundation Investigator Award

up to a level of $100,000 per year for no more than 5 years

 Arthritis Foundation Investigator (AFI) awards provide support for an outstanding established     investigator with innovative, creative ideas that have the potential to move arthritis research toward better treatments and a cure. These AFI awards are for the support of research investigations that can be accomplished within a period of up to 5 years. The awards may provide salary and/or research support. This support is available to sustain individuals committed to a pioneering career dedicated to finding better treatments and a cure for arthritis.

View Application deadline has passed

Please review the Program Guidelines for full description 

Department of Defense Funding

As the world’s leader in arthritis research, Arthritis Foundation is committed to accessing critical research dollars. Each year our Public Health Policy and Advocacy Staff, alongside thousands of arthritis advocates, implore Congress to support arthritis research funding. Among key legislative success was the inclusion of post-traumatic osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis among diseases eligible for research funding at the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program’s Peer Reviewed Research Program. The Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program received $50 million to allocate among 24 disease groups.

The Arthritis Foundation encourages interested researchers to apply for a peer-reviewed grant by visiting http://cdmrp.army.mil/prmrp/default.shtml.