CARRA and the Arthritis Foundation Award $2 Million in Research Grants

ATLANTA (July 20, 2026) — The Arthritis Foundation and the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) today announced nearly $2 million in research grants for physician-led research in pediatric rheumatology. CARRA-Arthritis Foundation Grant Program awards for 2026 will fund research in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), pediatric lupus, juvenile dermatomyositis, childhood vasculitis, autoimmune brain disease and more. There were two types of grants awarded this year – the Advancing Biosample Collection Award and the Mentored Career Development Award. 

Since its inception in 2016, this joint grant program has provided nearly $12 million to advance research in pediatric rheumatic diseases and to improve the lives of children. The CARRA-Arthritis Foundation Grant Program has also led to more than $12 million in additional funding from other sources for researchers. 

The Impact of Juvenile Arthritis and Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases 

Arthritis affects both adults and children. An estimated 300,000 children and teens are affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and other pediatric rheumatic diseases. Although treatments have advanced significantly, there is a critical need for research.  

Children growing up with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are burdened with pain, disability, frequent medical appointments and the emotional toll of living with chronic diseases that have no cures. These families also face many unanswered questions about their diseases and the most effective ways to treat them.   

“The CARRA–Arthritis Foundation Grant Program fuels research that gives hope to children and families living with pediatric rheumatic diseases,” says CARRA President Jay Mehta, MD, MSEd, attending physician in the Division of Rheumatology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and director of the Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program. “By supporting scientific research today, we are helping create a future where our patients will have better treatment options and an improved quality of life.”  

The CARRA-Arthritis Foundation Grant Program has provided 157 grants to 118 researchers at academic institutions since it was launched in 2016. 

The Arthritis Foundation is proud to have partnered with CARRA for a decade to advance pediatric rheumatology research, says Anna Lampe, PhD, Senior Director, Autoimmune and Inflammatory Arthritis, Arthritis Foundation. 

“This year’s awards support innovative research into biomarkers that could improve the diagnosis and treatment of children with rheumatic diseases,” says Lampe. “The grants also support the next generation of pediatric rheumatology researchers during a critical stage of their careers through the Mentored Career Development Awards.” 

Since the program began, every grant application has been reviewed by a team of scientists and a patient or caregiver to ensure that proposed research is meaningful to patients and aligns with their priorities. Patients and families are embedded throughout CARRA, and their involvement is crucial to CARRA’s mission. 

The 2026 awardees represent a cross-section of researchers focused on a wide variety of diseases, illustrating how the program empowers pediatric rheumatology research throughout our diverse community. Five of this year’s seven awardees are first-time recipients of a CARRA-Arthritis Foundation grant. 

Some of the Research Made Possible by This Year’s Grants 

Most children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) develop the disease due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, in some children — especially those who develop symptoms at a very young age or have other unusual immune system problems — there may be a strong genetic cause. Identifying these cases can guide treatment and improve care, yet genetic testing is not routinely done. The “Enhancing Precision Medicine in ‘Very Early Onset’ Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis” study aims to address this gap thanks to funding from an Advancing Biosample Collection Award. Led by Scott Canna, MD, of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, this project will begin integrating genetic testing into care by collecting samples from children at high risk. 

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare autoimmune disease that can damage a child's muscles, skin and other organs. We still do not know what causes it or why treatments work better for some children than others. A study led by Samantha Coss, MD, PhD, of Nationwide Children's Hospital, aims to better understand the cells involved, how autoantibodies contribute to disease and how biomarkers can predict how patients respond to different medicines. Funded by a Mentored Career Development Award, researchers will create patient "avatars" (laboratory models that mimic an individual child's disease) to unlock answers about JDM. The long-term goal is to develop safer, more targeted therapies that improve outcomes and reduce side effects for children.  

Children with systemic lupus (cSLE) require complex, ongoing care, but many families face social and financial challenges, such as language barriers and transportation problems, that make treatment more difficult. A study titled “Leveraging the CARRA Registry to Guide Family-Centered Intervention in cSLE” will compare families enrolled in the CARRA Registry with those who are not in the registry to better understand differences in social needs and missed appointments. Kristina Ciaglia, MD, of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, received a Mentored Career Development Award to conduct this research. The findings will support family-centered strategies to improve care and reduce disparities.  

Congratulations to the 2026 CARRA-Arthritis Foundation Grant Program Awardees: 

Jessica Bloom, MD, MSCS, of University of Colorado Denver, AMC and DC  
Mentored Career Development Award  
Childhood Vasculitis: Risk Factors for Quality of Life and Damage Measures ​  

Scott Canna, MD, of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 
Advancing Biosample Collection Award  
Enhancing Precision Medicine in "Very Early Onset" Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis  

Kristina Ciaglia, MD, of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 
Mentored Career Development Award  
Leveraging the CARRA Registry to Guide Family-Centered Intervention in cSLE ​  

Samantha Coss, MD, PhD, of Nationwide Children's Hospital  
Mentored Career Development Award  
Immune Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets in Juvenile Dermatomyositis ​ 

Brittany Huynh, MD, MPH, of University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine  
Mentored Career Development Award  
Teratogen-Exposed Pregnancy and Contraceptive Use Patterns Among AYAs With Rheumatic Disease 

Yike Jiang, MD, PhD, of Duke University School of Medicine 
Mentored Career Development Award  
Defining anti-MOG Antibody and Microglia Interactions 

Ryan Kammeyer, MD, of University of Colorado Denver, AMC and DC  
Advancing Biosample 
Collection Award  
Advancing Care for Neuropsychiatric Disease in Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ​  

About the Arthritis Foundation: 
The Arthritis Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the fight against arthritis — the nation’s #1 cause of disability. Through groundbreaking scientific research, patient-centered programs, advocacy at all levels of government and robust community engagement, the Foundation empowers people to live their best lives while relentlessly pursuing a cure. With a presence in communities nationwide, we amplify the voices of those affected and work to drive lasting change. Learn more at arthritis.org. 
 
About the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA): 
CARRA’s mission is to unite the pediatric rheumatology community to drive research and transform the lives of children with rheumatic diseases. Formed in 2002 by a small group of dedicated physicians, CARRA now has 800 members at more than 120 institutions. CARRA has built the largest observational multi-center registry for pediatric rheumatic disease, as well as a biobank. CARRA is a 501(c)3 registered non-profit. Learn more at  carragroup.org.