25 Years of Improving Lives Through Discovery: 1986 – 2011
The NIAMS is established and ... (more)
Lawrence E. Shulman, M.D., Ph.D.
CLOSE1986: The NIAMS is established and appoints its first director, Lawrence E. Shulman, M.D., Ph.D.-
The NIAMS Coalition, a group of more than ... (more)1986: The NIAMS Coalition, a group of more than 70 professional and voluntary organizations, is founded and continues to serve as a vital liaison to Congress, researchers, patients and the public.
- Researchers discover dystrophin gene defects ... (more)
1987: Researchers discover dystrophin gene defects that cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spurring progress for gene therapy research.
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The NIAMS Information Clearinghouse is launched and ... (more)1987: The NIAMS Information Clearinghouse is launched and serves as a centralized source of information on arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases for patients and health care providers.
- The NIAMS holds its first NIH Consensus ... (more)
1989: The NIAMS holds its first NIH Consensus Development Conference on sunlight, ultraviolet radiation and the skin. Future conferences focused on optimal calcium intake, total hip replacement, total knee replacement and osteoporosis.
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The NIAMS-funded Study of Osteoporotic Fractures ... (more)
Patient and technician with DXA machine.
CLOSE1990: The NIAMS-funded Study of Osteoporotic Fractures helps doctors identify people at high risk for osteoporosis. -
Researchers create an animal model for ... (more)
HLA-B27 misfolding, which may lead to disease.
CLOSE1990: Researchers create an animal model for ankylosing spondylitis by introducing the human HLA-B27 gene into rats.
- Gene defects are identified ... (more)
1992: Gene defects are identified that cause inherited skin disorders, including epidermolysis bullosa, leading to more specific diagnostic tests and spurring gene therapy research.
Scientists discover proteins that ... (more)
Nanofiber-based engineered cartilage.
CLOSE1992: Scientists discover proteins that regulate bone growth and repair, paving the way for bone grafting and cartilage regeneration advances.
A team of intramural researchers identify ... (more)
John O’Shea, M.D., NIAMS Scientific Director.
CLOSE1994: A team of intramural researchers identify an immune system enzyme, Jak3, which leads to the discovery of a genetic mutation causing severe combined immunodeficiency and the development of new therapeutic targets.
The NIAMS, with other federal and NIH partners ... (more)1994: The NIAMS, with other federal and NIH partners, launches the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center to increase awareness of these conditions.
Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., ... (more)
Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D.
CLOSE1995: Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., becomes the second director of the NIAMS.
Major histo ... (more)
Elaine Remmers, Ph.D., using high-throughput SNP genotyping system.
CLOSE1996: Major histocompatibility complex gene is identified by intramural researchers and partners as the single most predisposing factor for autoimmune diseases.
For the first time, researchers locate a gene ... (more)
A commercial chip used to perform genetic tests.
CLOSE1997: For the first time, researchers locate a gene on chromosome 1 that predisposes people to systemic lupus erythematosus, ushering in a new era of lupus genetics research.
The gene for Familial Mediterranean Fever ... (more)
Dan Kastner, M.D., Ph.D.
CLOSE1997: The gene for Familial Mediterranean Fever is discovered by intramural researchers and partners, which leads to their later identification of gene mutations that cause TNF receptor-associated periodic syndromes.
- Research funded by the NIAMS and others on the disease ... (more)
1999: Research funded by the NIAMS and others on the disease processes of rheumatoid arthritis results in an entirely new class of rheumatic disease treatments, named biologic response modifiers.
The NIH opens a pediatric ... (more)
Nicole Plass, R.N., B.S.N., M.P.A., with a patient.
CLOSE2000: The NIH opens a pediatric rheumatology clinic coordinated by the NIAMS at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md., to diagnose, evaluate and treat children with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.
The NIAMS and Washington, D.C.-area ... (more)2000: The NIAMS and Washington, D.C.-area community representatives open a new community-based research center in D.C.'s Cardozo neighborhood to address health disparities in rheumatic diseases.
- The NIAMS, NINDS, NICHD
and the ... (more)
2001: The NIAMS, NINDS, NICHD and the Muscular Dystrophy Association join forces to fund the first cooperative research centers for the muscular dystrophies.
A unique public-private partnership ... (more)
Technician with patient in CT machine.
CLOSE2001: A unique public-private partnership, the Osteoarthritis Initiative, is launched to speed discovery of biological markers for osteoarthritis.
Advances in osteoporosis research highlight ... (more)2003: Advances in osteoporosis research highlight that parathyroid hormone and alendronate administered in combination are no better for osteoporosis than either alone.
- In a discovery with implications for ... (more)
2004: In a discovery with implications for wound healing and regenerative medicine, researchers define the characteristics of the hair follicle stem cells that are responsible for their self-renewal, and the factors in the hair follicle microenvironment that contribute to stem cell pluripotency.
A gene variant is ... (more)
An assay plate used in the genotyping system to determine disease susceptibility.
CLOSE2004: A gene variant is found that increases susceptibility to juvenile arthritis.
The Surgeon General's Report on ... (more)2004: The Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis, a trans-HHS effort led by the NIAMS to draw bone science experts together and make public the known science on bone health, is published.
Intramural researchers discover new ... (more)
NOMID/DIRA clinical and laboratory teams.
CLOSE2006: Intramural researchers discover new treatments for the autoinflammatory diseases neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID) and deficiency of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA) after finding genetic mutations that cause a protein imbalance.
- A study supported by the NIAMS finds ... (more)
2007: A study supported by the NIAMS finds the anticonvulsant medication gabapentin effective for treating fibromyalgia pain and other symptoms.
Two-year results from NIAMS’ ... (more)
Doctor with patient showing model of spine.
CLOSE2008: Two-year results from NIAMS’ Multicenter Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) reveal the effectiveness of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment approaches for three common back conditions.
- The NIAMS Multicultural Outreach Initiative ... (more)
2009: The NIAMS Multicultural Outreach Initiative is launched to bring together partners to address disparities in access to health information across racial, ethnic and underserved populations.
Research partly funded by the NIAMS ... (more)
Illustration of muscle layers.
CLOSE2011: Research partly funded by the NIAMS identifies two genetic variations that start the disease process in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, enabling scientists to design treatment research strategies.
Updated May 6, 2011
