NIAMS Update, Issue 4, 2024

Letter From the Director: Community Collaboration Advances NIAMS Resource Development

When I joined NIAMS three and a half years ago, I talked about my commitment to collaboration and learning from the NIAMS community in my first director's letter. Since then, we have done a lot of both collaborating and learning! I highly value the input from the NIAMS community on the development of our resources and in determining the direction of our research so that we are addressing the needs of the various audiences we serve, from researchers and medical providers to patients and caregivers. Read more

NIAMS Seeks Exceptional Candidates to Serve as Deputy Director of the Institute

Do you have a deep commitment to scientific excellence? Do you want to help lead one of the preeminent organizations in the world for arthritis, musculoskeletal, and skin diseases research? NIAMS seeks candidates with a significant amount of experience in scientific programs and executive management experience to serve as deputy director and help lead the institute. The successful candidate will assist the director in implementing the institute's strategic plan and managing daily operations. Read the job posting for more information and how to apply. The application deadline is Monday, September 30, 2024.

NIAMS Director Lindsey A. Criswell Discusses Lupus Research and Collaborations at NIEHS Event

NIAMS Director Lindsey A. Criswell, M.D., M.P.H., D.Sc., recently presented at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) June Distinguished Lecture event. Read about the promising directions in understanding the genetic and environmental causes of lupus as well as opportunities for NIEHS-NIAMS collaborations.

Skin Features Provide an Early Clue to the Diagnosis of VEXAS Syndrome

Intramural scientists at NIAMS and other institutions have shed light on patterns of skin characteristics seen in patients with VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome, an often-deadly inflammatory condition caused by mutations in the UBA1 gene of blood cells. These findings could help guide clinicians in identifying and diagnosing VEXAS.

In Myositis, Autoantibodies Get Inside Muscle Cells and Disrupt the Function of the Proteins They Bind To

Scientists have discovered a new mechanism through which myositis autoantibodies contribute to the disease. The findings come from an international team of researchers, led by Iago Pinal-Fernandez, M.D., Ph.D., Staff Clinician, and Sandra Muñoz-Braceras, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, in the NIAMS Intramural Research Program's (IRP) Muscle Disease Section. The mechanism may be relevant in other autoimmune diseases such as systemic sclerosis, vasculitis, and lupus.

Maternal Brain Hormone Key to Strengthening Bones Could Help Treat Osteoporosis, Bone Fractures

Researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including NIAMS, found a surprising candidate for strengthening bones: a maternal hormone produced in the brain. Learn about the role of CCN3 in building bone mass and strength and its potential to help treat bone loss, osteoporosis, and other disorders of bone and cartilage.

30 Years of Lupus Research Lauded

Researchers, patients, advocates, and NIH staff gathered recently to celebrate the 30th anniversary of lupus clinical research within the lupus natural history protocol at NIH, marking key accomplishments while looking toward the future.

IRP Scientists Sound Off in Three-Minute Talks

NIAMS postbaccalaureate fellow, Ryleigh Griffin, from IRP's Cutaneous Microbiome and Inflammation Section won the top prize in an NIH speaking competition with her presentation, titled "Bacterial Growth Spurts: Puberty and Skin Health." NIH hosts the annual Three-Minute Talks competition for all postbacs, graduate students, and postdocs to support the development of communication skills in scientists.

Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Plan

NIAMS is operating under the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-47) signed by President Biden on March 23, 2024.

Spotlight on Scientific Imagery: Keratin Skin Tumors

This image shows Keratin 5 (red) and Keratin 1 (green) expression in skin tumors. Keratins are fibrous structural proteins present in epithelial structures, such as skin, hair, and nails. They form filaments that give strength and toughness to the structures. Keratins are often used to assist in the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.

Photo Credit: Elisabetta Palazzo, Ph.D., NIAMS Laboratory of Skin Biology

Funding Opportunities From the NIH HEAL Initiative Announced

NIAMS, in coordination with the Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative®, and other NIH institutes and centers, has recently issued two funding opportunities:

• HEAL Initiative: HEAL KIDS (Knowledge, Innovation and Discovery Studies): Chronic Pain Program (RFA-AR-24-007)
  The application deadline is November 8, 2024.
• HEAL Initiative: INTERACT INTEgRAtive Back Pain Longitudinal Cohort Teams (UC2 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-AR-25-005)
  The application deadline is October 11, 2024.

Learn more about NIAMS' role in the NIH HEAL Initiative.

Looking for New Educational Resources to Teach Kids About the Human Body?

NIAMS has launched new resources designed for kids in grades 4-6 who are interested in learning about their bones, joints, muscles, and skin. These webpages aim to educate and engage kids in simple, fun, and interactive ways. Kahoot! quizzes are included. These resources align with national science and health education standards.

NIH News in Health: Scaly Skin-About Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a long-lasting skin disease. Patches of skin become scaly and inflamed. Psoriasis usually affects the scalp, elbows, and knees. But it can also appear on other parts of the body.

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine: Fibromyalgia-What You Need to Know

Fibromyalgia is a chronic (long-term) condition that causes muscle pain and tenderness all over the body. It can also cause extreme exhaustion and other symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 4 million adults in the United States have fibromyalgia.

Stay Updated About Funding Announcements

To get timely information about grants and funding opportunities, subscribe to funding-dedicated email newsletters, including periodic NIAMS Funding Alerts and a monthly NIAMS Funding News email. Also check out the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, the primary source for information about NIH funding opportunities, and request a weekly Table of Contents from the NIH Guide. In addition, the NIAMS website provides comprehensive information on NIAMS-related grants and processes.

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NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series

The 2024-2025 Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series season begins in September.

Upcoming lecture:

Heart of the Matter: Unraveling Cardiovascular Disease in Autoimmune Disorders
Mariana J. Kaplan, M.D., NIAMS, NIH
November 6, 2024
2 to 3 p.m. ET
Astute Clinician Lecture
Videocast available

NIH Science Lectures and Events

2024 National Academy of Sciences Mini-Symposium
September 24, 2024
10 a.m. ET

The Philip S. Chen Jr., Ph.D. Distinguished Lecture on Innovation and Technology Transfer
September 25, 2024
10 a.m. ET

2024 Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health Annual Meeting
October 1, 2024
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Natcher Conference Center, Building 45, NIH Campus
Registration required

In addition, look for past videocasts, including:

• Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee Meeting-July 10, 2024

For additional online science seminars and events hosted by the NIH, view the NIH VideoCast Future Events and the NIH calendar.