Dr. Kaplan has studied a number of autoimmune diseases, from rheumatoid arthritis to vasculitis, but most of her efforts have been focused on what she calls “the poster child” for autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), more commonly referred to as ‘lupus.’

We are pleased to announce a new and exciting program designed to create a more robust cadre of researchers dedicated to women’s health research. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) are partnering to launch a pilot program to support and train research scholars by helping them acquire and hone team science leadership and mentoring skills. The Team Science Leadership Scholars Program (LSP) will be funded by ORWH and embedded within the Accelerating Medicines Partnership® Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases (AMP® AIM) program, which NIAMS and ORWH both support1.

For a type of wound that often plagues patients with diabetes, healing is no sure thing. IRP researchers recently identified why certain immune cells shift from helpful healers into saboteurs in those injuries.

Since the early 1990s, federal support of research has increased to understand minority health and identify and address health disparities. Research in these areas has evolved from a starting point of developing a basic descriptive understanding of health disparities and who is most affected.

Every five years, NIAMS revisits and updates its strategic plan, a document designed to guide us in our decision making about the research the Institute will support. This is an important opportunity for individuals and organizations to provide input on NIAMS’ priorities and direction moving forward.

Each summer, labs across the NIH welcome college students and recent grads eager to jumpstart their biomedical research careers. The junior scientists dive into lab work and conduct innovative experiments designed to fill knowledge gaps in their chosen area of study. For NIAMS trainees, the institute’s annual IRP Scientific Retreat offers important professional development opportunities.

Understanding and treating joint pain is important to improving long-term health—and a fundamental part of the NIAMS mission. With that imperative in mind, I’m delighted that NIAMS is supporting a new Consortium that may lead us closer to ultimately being able to restore joint health. The Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain (RE-JOIN) Consortium is part of the Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative®, an aggressive, trans-NIH effort to speed scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis.

A recent 2-day NIH workshop aimed to better understand health disparities in caring for and treating people with osteoarthritis (OA) and the role played by social determinants of health. NIAMS, NIA and NIMHD sponsored the event.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic and its challenges have a longstanding impact on conditions that fall within the mission of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Responding to this challenge, NIAMS has published a Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to promote research opportunities on HIV/AIDS (NOT-AR-23-004). Applications are being accepted through January 7, 2028. The NOSI alerts potential applicants to the NIAMS of an area of special interest in HIV/AIDS-associated comorbidities that are within the Institute’s mission. NIH has provided the largest public investment in HIV/AIDS research globally. In line with overall NIH efforts, NIAMS encourages observational