Through our disease targeted research initiative, the REF is committed to funding innovative research that is not being done elsewhere, which will impact medical breakthroughs in rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. To date, the REF has committed over $24 million to 58 cutting-edge research projects providing insight into the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of RA. The important work being done through this program is integral in our quest to find a cure.
Within Our Reach
Within Our Reach was developed in 2006 as a five-year disease-targeted research initiative intended to infuse much-needed dollars into RA research. It was designed as a tiered research program, in which funding has progressed over the years from smaller investigator-initiated grants to larger collaborative grants, and now, clinical trials.
Clinical trial planning grants have been funded for the period May 1, 2011 – April 30, 2012. The request for proposals for clinical trials is now available for download (see below). The REF anticipates funding up to two clinical trials at $3 million each to start in the fall of 2012.
Documents available for download:
- 2012 Program Announcement: Clinical Trials

- 2012 Request for Proposals: RA Clinical Trials

- 2012 Application Forms: RA Clinical Trials
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Timeline for Clinical Trials:
January 2, 2012 Program Announcement and Requests for Proposals available
March 1, 2012 Letters of Intent due
May 1, 2012 Clinical trial application postmark deadline
August 15, 2012 Notifications will be sent to all applicants
September 1, 2012 Funding will begin for clinical trials
Learn more about the Within Our Reach Campaign (2006-2011)
- The Grant Program
- Grant recipients

- Why RA?
- Research about the causes of RA
- Research about the diagnosis of RA
- Research about the treatment of RA
- Finding a Cure
Disease Targeted Research Grants: Program Announcement
The REF is pleased to announce the next phase of our disease targeted research initiative, which will include investigator-initiated grants and smaller pilot grants. For this next phase of the initiative, the research area will be expanded to include other conditions where inflammatory arthritis is the major pathology. Please download the Program Announcement and Request for Proposals documents for all the details.
Documents available for download:
- 2011 Program Announcement

- 2011 Request for Proposals: Investigator-Initiated Grants

- 2011 Application Forms: Investigator-Initiated Grants

- 2011 Request for Proposals: Pilot Grants

- 2011 Application Forms: Pilot Grants

>> The deadline for disease targeted research grants (pilot and investigator-initiated grants) has passed. Please check back in August 2012 for the next Request for Proposals.
For more information about this program, please contact the REF office by e-mail or by phone at (404) 633-3777.





