The NIAMS hosts and participates in a number of working groups and committees that bring together representatives from the scientific and lay communities to work collectively and collaboratively.

NIAMS Advisory Council
The NIAMS Advisory Council meets three times each year to advise the Institute about its research portfolio and broader issues of science policy, and provide peer review of grant applications that have been scored by scientific review groups.

Lupus Federal Working Group
The Lupus Federal Working Group is composed of representatives from all relevant HHS agencies and any other government agency having an interest in lupus. These agencies exchange information on new developments and take advantage of new scientific opportunities in the field of lupus research. Read the Action Plan for Lupus Research.

Federal Working Group on Bone Disease
The Federal Working Group on Bone Disease is an interagency committee focusing on osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and other bone disorders. It offers a forum for sharing information, learning from each other and invited speakers, and facilitating the development, early in the planning stages, of collaborative research activities based on each agency's mission.

Muscular Dystrophy Coordination Committee
The Muscular Dystrophy Coordinating Committee coordinates activities across NIH and with other Federal health programs and activities relevant to the various forms of muscular dystrophy (MD).

NIH AI/AN Health Communications and Information Working Group
The NIH AI/AN Health Communications and Information Work Group provides a forum for health education and communications staff from across the NIH to share strategies and effective communication approaches to develop and disseminate health information to American Indian and Alaska Native communities.