On May 2, 2023, NIAMS Scientific Director of Intramural Research, Dr. John O’Shea, was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences at the conclusion of the Academy’s 160 th annual meeting. This designation – considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can achieve – recognizes distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. In addition to this latest accolade, Dr. O’Shea has received numerous prizes, including the Howley Prize for Research in Arthritis, the Ross Prize in Molecular Medicine, the Millstein Prize from the International Cytokine and Interferon Society, the AAI-Steinman Award for Human Immunology, the ASCI-Harrington Prize

Concept clearance is the planning process that begins approximately two years prior to any potential funding. NIAMS receives input from the National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council (NAMSAC) regarding the merits of proposed research concepts. The concepts listed here have been presented and discussed at previous NAMSAC meetings.

Mariana Kaplan, M.D., a longstanding NIAMS researcher and leader, has been promoted to the title of NIH Distinguished Investigator.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) appointed Gayle Lester, Ph.D., as the director of the Division of Extramural Research. Lester had held the position in an acting role since the reorganization of the Institute's extramural program in April 2018. She assumed the director position March 1, 2020 and will continue to oversee both DER and the Office of Extramural Operations (OEO). "Gayle has provided strong leadership during her time as acting head of DER, and I look forward to watching our extramural efforts continue to prosper," Robert H. Carter, M.D., acting director at NIAMS, said

I think we can all agree that 2020 was a challenging year. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us in unprecedented ways and has taken far too many lives. Despite that, I want to share some of my optimism for 2021.

NIH scientists developed and recently released a free, online data query tool called NeutGX. Researchers around the world can use NeutGX to explore the genetic basis of neutrophil-mediated inflammation in autoimmune diseases, cancer, infectious diseases and other conditions.