Five lines of research related to COVID-19 and people with rheumatic diseases will be explored with $1.65 million awarded recently by the Rheumatology Research Foundation.
Dr. S. Louis Bridges
Investigators will explore topics ranging from respiratory health to telemedicine with the awards, given by the foundation that is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the United States. The projects are an attempt to deepen the understanding about how people with rheumatic illnesses are affected by COVID-19.
“Our current understanding of why there are differences in severity of COVID-19 illness among rheumatology patients is limited,” Foundation President S. Louis Bridges, MD, PhD, said. “Additionally, there are many other gaps in our knowledge of the clinical aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with rheumatic diseases, and how the pandemic has changed health care delivery. There is an urgent need to acquire new knowledge on COVID-19 in patients with [rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases].”
These are the research projects funded:
- Scientist Development Award: Respiratory complications of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in rheumatic diseases, led by Kristin D’Silva, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston (3-year, $225,000 grant)
- Scientist Development Award: COVID-19 in patients with inflammatory arthritis: A prospective study on the effects of immunomodulatory therapy on susceptibility and clinical outcomes, by Rebecca Haberman, MD, of New York University (3-year, $225,000 grant)
- Innovative Research Award: Antiphospholipid antibodies in COVID-19, led by Jason Knight, MD, PhD, of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2-year, $400,000 grant);
- Innovative Research Award: Effectiveness of telerheumatology for delivering high-quality rheumatology care during the COVID-19 crisis, led by Maria Danila, MD, MSc, MSPH, of University of Alabama at Birmingham (2-year, $400,000 grant)
- Norman B. Gaylis, MD, Clinical Research Award: Telehealth-delivered health care to improve care (THRIVE) in community-practice rheumatology, led by Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, of Beverly Hills, Calif.–based Attune Health (2-year, $400,000 grant)
Dr. Bridges said the foundation accepted submissions in basic science, translational science, clinical science, health services research, and patient- and practice-centered research.
“What differentiates these studies from our existing awards portfolio is they all explore the relationships between rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and SARS-CoV-2,” he said. “Ultimately, the outcomes of these projects will contribute to a more comprehensive knowledge base and advance avenues of patient care in the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Dr. Norman Gaylis
Courtesy Dr. Norman Gaylis
Dr. Gaylis, a rheumatologist in private practice in Aventura, Fla., said he was pleased that a telehealth project was chosen as the award given in his name.
“From a COVID point of view, this has been extremely valuable in allowing us to continue to help out patients, connect with our patients, provide them treatment, even if it’s not hands on, at least guide them in how to deal with their chronic rheumatic illnesses,” he said.
This line of research can also help explore the feasibility of telemedicine in helping meet the needs of rural communities facing shortages of rheumatologists.
“Can telemedicine provide a source of rheumatologic access for people who really don’t have a live provider in close proximity?” he said. “I think that’s really why this particular award is very, very timely.”
“It’s so difficult for clinicians to get funding for their research, for their ideas and for the discoveries they were making on a day-to-day basis while they were practicing in a clinical community environment,” he said. “So for me it was really something that inspired me to really create this award.”