Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research Grants

Federal Agency: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH CFDA 93.846
 

Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research Program Objectives

To support research relevant to arthritis, musculoskeletal and skin diseases, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) supports research training and basic and clinical investigations including epidemiology and clinical trials in the areas of skin and rheumatic diseases and musculoskeletal diseases.

The Division of Skin and Rheumatic Diseases promotes and supports basic, epidemiological, and clinical studies of skin and rheumatic and related diseases. Studies range from determining the underlying basis and mechanisms of disease (including large genetic studies)the to translational and clinical research aimed at the diagnosis, treatment, prediction, and/or prevention of disease.

The skin program supports research in normal and diseased skin including keratinocyte biology and wound healing, and disorders such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and other chronic inflammatory skin disorders; the vesiculobullous diseases such as pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, and epidermolysis bullosa; acne, alopecia areata, vitiligo, and skin neoplasia.

The rheumatic disease program supports research in the systemic autoimmune diseases and arthritides, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic scleroderma, autoimmune myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, spondyloarthropathies, vasculitis, gout, Sjogren’s syndrome, and fibromyalgia syndrome. In addition, the Division supports studies on the extracellular matrix, including research on Marfan syndrome, keloid formation, and pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

The Division also supports biopsychosocial research related to rheumatic, musculoskeletal, or skin diseases. Topics include behavioral interventions, pain mechanisms, neuroendocrine and neuroimmune mechanisms, behavioral and social research, and epidemiology.

The Division of Musculoskeletal Diseases supports studies of the skeleton and associated connective tissues. Broad areas of interest include skeletal development, metabolism, mechanical properties, and responses to injury. Among these diseases and skeletal disorders are osteoporosis; osteogenesis imperfecta; Paget’s disease of bone; vitamin D refractory diseases; and rickets and osteochondrodysplasias. Other areas of interest include treatment of acute and chronic injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive stress injury, low back pain and clinical and epidemiological studies of osteoarthritis.

The Division supports development of new technologies with the potential to improve treatment of skeletal disorders and facilitate the repair of trauma in the normal skeleton. These include drugs and nutritional interventions, joint replacement, bone and cartilage transplantation, biomarkers and gene therapy. In addition, bioengineering, sports medicine, and musculoskeletal fitness are areas of special research emphasis. This Division also encourages and supports research on skeletal muscle, its diseases and disorders, and its central role in human physiology and exercise. Topics include the molecular structure of muscle and the molecular mechanisms that produce force and motion.

Muscle biophysics, cell biology, muscle biology, muscle disorders and therapies, musculoskeletal development, tissue re-engineering, and regenerative medicine are encompassed in this area as well.

The Division also supports research into the biology of cartilage, tendons, ligaments, biopsychosocial, and intervertebral discs, including pre-clinical studies on injury and disease conditions affecting these tissues. NIAMS participates in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

The SBIR program is intended to increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development; to increase small business participation in Federal research and development; and to foster and encourage participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in technological innovation.

The STTR program is intended to stimulate and foster scientific and technological innovation through cooperative research and development carried out between small business concerns and research institutions; to foster technology transfer between small business concerns and research institutions; to increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development; and to foster and encourage participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in technological innovation.

Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research Funding

Project Grants Total:

 

FY 2018 est. – 328,920,642

FY 2017 est. – $451,420,063

Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research Range and Average of Financial Assistance

  • Research Grants: $1,000 to $2,700,000; $357,005.
  • National Research Service Awards: $6,889 to $473,239; $53,911.
  • SBIR: Phase 1 awards — approximately $216,150; Phase II awards –approximately $670,446.
  • STTR: Phase 1 awards — approximately $201,560; Phase II awards –approximately $784,280.

Who Can Apply for Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research Grants

Research Grants: Individuals and public and private institutions, both nonprofit and for-profit, who propose to establish, expand, and improve research activities in health sciences and related fields.

National Research Service Awards: Individuals must be nominated and sponsored by a public or private, for-profit or nonprofit institution having staff and facilities appropriate to the proposed research training program.

All awardees must be citizens or have been admitted to the United States for permanent residence. To be eligible, predoctoral awardees must have completed the baccalaureate degree and postdoctoral awardees must have a professional or scientific degree (M.D., Ph.D., D.D.S., D.O., D.V.M., Sc.D., D. Eng., or equivalent domestic or foreign degree).

Nonprofit domestic organizations may apply for the Institutional National Research Service grant. Small Business Innovation Research grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed, and have no more than 500 employees).

Primary employment (more than one-half time) of the principal investigator must be with the small business at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed project.

In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. or its possessions. To be eligible for funding, a grant application must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council.

STTR grants can be awarded only to domestic small business concerns (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed and have no more than 500 employees) which partner with a research institution in cooperative research and development.

At least 40 percent of the project is to be performed by the small business concern and at least 30 percent by the research institution. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions.

To be eligible for funding, a grant application must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council.

Who Can Benefit from Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research Program

Individual/Family, Private nonprofit institution/organization, Health Professional, Student/Trainee, Graduate Student, Scientist/Researchers, U.S. Citizen, Public nonprofit institution/organization. 

Research Grants: Although no degree of education is either specified or required, nearly all successful applicants have doctoral degrees in one of the sciences or professions.

National Research Service Awards: Predoctoral awardees must have completed the baccalaureate degree and postdoctoral awardees must have a professional or scientific degree.

Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research Program

Contact Information

Melinda B. Nelson
Acting Director, Division of Extramural Research Activities
6701 Democracy Boulevard, Ste 800,
Bethesda, MD 20892
melinda.nelson@nih.gov
(301) 435-5278
Full info on Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research Program:
http://www.niams.nih.gov