NIAMS updated this page February 13, 2017, due to organization name changes.

What Others are Saying About the Accelerating Medicines Partnership’s Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus Network Awards

AbbVie:

"AbbVie is proud to support the AMP RA/Lupus Network and collaborate on emerging research to improve the treatment options for patients living with some of the world’s most serious medical conditions," said Jim Sullivan, Ph.D., Vice President, Pharmaceutical Discovery, AbbVie. "These initial awards represent an important first step to better understanding the disease and identifying better therapeutics."

Bristol-Myers Squibb:

"Bristol-Myers Squibb is proud to be part of this innovative partnership to understand diseases at the cellular and molecular level," said Francis Cuss, Chief Scientific Officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “"As the individual projects move forward, we are excited to start the work that will contribute to a broader understanding of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus and accelerate efforts toward the development of new treatment options for patients."

Sanofi:

"At Sanofi we are both honored and excited to join the Accelerating Medicines Partnership," said Gary Nabel, Sanofi’s Chief Scientific Officer. "Our efforts will focus on the needs of lupus and rheumatoid arthritis patients. While progress has been made in recent years, many patients continue to suffer from these debilitating diseases. This public-private partnership aims to deepen our understanding of these debilitating autoimmune disorders. By defining their key causes, the AMP team, with support from our Sanofi scientists, hopes to accelerate the development of new, more effective medicines to treat them."

Alliance for Lupus Research (as of July 2016 this organization merged into the Lupus Research Alliance):

"The Accelerating Medicines Partnership is research funding at its best," said Alliance for Lupus Research President Kenneth M. Farber. "The Alliance for Lupus Research is thrilled to be a part of a truly collegial initiative among government, industry and non-profit organizations. Such a partnership across these sectors to address the crucial need for better treatment options demonstrates the determination and focus of all involved to accelerate advances and improve the lives of people with lupus."

Arthritis Foundation:

"The Arthritis Foundation is proud to be a part of this groundbreaking partnership," said Amanda Niskar, DrPH, MPH, BSN, national scientific director, Arthritis Foundation, "For people with arthritis, these awards offer a tangible hope for not only a better understanding of these diseases, but also for the development of greater diagnostic and treatment options."

Lupus Foundation of America:

"Lupus is the prototypical autoimmune disease because it can impact any organ. Answers on the biology of lupus may provide clues to the causes of other autoimmune diseases," explains Sandra C. Raymond, President and CEO, Lupus Foundation of America. "Only one drug has been developed specifically for lupus and approved by the Food and Drug Administration. We need an arsenal of treatments for lupus, a complex disease that affects everyone differently. Through the AMP project, we are able to foster research and innovation that may not have happened without this support. Our hope is that these efforts will lead to a new understanding of the underlying causes of lupus along with new therapies and one day a cure for this devastating disease."

Lupus Research Institute (as of July 2016 this organization merged into the Lupus Research Alliance):

"The new AMP RA/Lupus Network is an exceptionally robust group of top investigators who bring strong synergies between clinical experience and expertise in cutting-edge technologies," noted Margaret Dowd, President and CEO of the Lupus Research Institute. "The LRI appreciates the opportunity to represent the lupus research and patient community in collaboration with government and industry to accelerate innovation to deliver better, safer treatments."

Rheumatology Research Foundation:

"The Rheumatology Research Foundation (RRF) strongly supports research that will lead to advances in treatments and, one day, cures for rheumatic diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)," said Mary Wheatley, Executive Director of the RRF. "The AMP RA/Lupus Network has developed an innovative, collaborative project that has tremendous potential to improve patient care. We look forward to tracking the progress of the network in the coming months and years, and are pleased to partner on this effort. It is our hope that this collaboration will lead to improved outcomes in lupus and RA, and that the lessons learned and information gathered can be applied to other disease areas."

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