REF Awards and Grants are designed to select the best in each niche of rheumatology, foster their ideas, and prepare them for larger awards and grants from other institutions to sustain their long-term careers.
Twice a year, we feature five different REF “superstars” whose careers have been impacted by receiving an REF award or grant.
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Karen H. Costenbader, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Co-Director of Lupus Center
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
ACR REF Physician Scientist Development Award (2003)
(Now the ACR REF Rheumatology Scientist Development Award)
ACR REF/AF Arthritis Investigator Award (2006)
- Dr. Costenbader’s research investigates risk factors for the development of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and for outcomes among those affected with these conditions.
- Recent findings have confirmed that cigarette smoking greatly increases the risk of RA among women, with a strong dose-effect and gene-environment interaction with HLA and PTPN22 genotypes.
- Vitamin D and antioxidant dietary intakes do not appear to be related to the future risks of developing either RA or SLE among women. Early menarche, oral contraceptive use and postmenopausal hormone use all increase risk of developing SLE.
“I thank the ACR REF for getting me through the vulnerable period of transition from fellowship training to my first independent research projects. REF funding was critical and allowed me to complete my first research projects and organize for NIH applications.”
Allan C. Gelber, MD, MPH, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology
Deputy Director for Education, Division of Rheumatology
Johns Hopkins University
ACR REF/AF Arthritis Investigator Award (1999)
ACR REF Clinician Scholar Educator Award (2004)
ACR REF/Abbott Resident Recruitment Dinner Program (2005, 2006)
ACR REF/Amgen/Pfizer Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program (2004-2012)
- Dr. Gelber serves as an educator to medical students, interns and residents regarding arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders.
- Dr. Gelber has had a decade of service as Rheumatology Fellowship Program Director.
- Dr. Gelber is a clinical investigator using epidemiology as a research tool across a spectrum of rheumatologic disorders.
- Dr. Gelber serves as Chair, Maryland State Advisory Council on Arthritis and Related Diseases.
“Support from the ACR REF was critical to my development as a clinical investigator and educator in the rheumatic diseases, and to the growth of our fellowship training program.”
M. Elaine Husni, MD, MPH
Department Vice Chair, Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Center
Cleveland Clinic
ACR REF Physician Scientist Development Award (2003)
(Now the ACR REF Rheumatology Scientist Development Award)
ACR REF Clinical Investigator Fellowship Award (2008)
(Now the ACR REF Rheumatology Scientist Development Award)
ACR REF/Abbott Medical Student Clinical Preceptorship (2009)
ACR REF/Abbott Medical Student Research Preceptorship (2011)
- Dr. Husni’s research focus is on predicting which inflammatory biomarkers in inflammatory arthritis can better predict and/or prevent cardiovascular disease in these patients.
- Dr. Husni has worked to develop novel strategies for cardiovascular disease detection and prevention.
- Dr. Husni is facilitating interdisciplinary research teams to enhance the ability to perform clinical research.
“As there are increasing clinical, teaching and administrative demands on young physicians, the so-called physician scientists are declining in numbers; this is a very disturbing trend. The REF has dedicated support to this very group. Without the REF support I would not be able to translate my new knowledge in clinical research to patient care during a critical time in my early career path. Thank you to the REF!”
Ted R. Mikuls, MD, MSPH
Professor of Medicine
University of Nebraska Medical Center and
Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center
ACR REF Clinical Investigator Fellowship Award (2001)
(Now the ACR REF Rheumatology Scientist Development Award)
Within Our Reach - Clinical Practice Research Grant (2010)
- Dr. Mikuls’ research is focused primarily on the epidemiology and outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis. Specifically, his work has examined associations of environmental risk factors with RA onset and disease progression. Dr. Mikuls’ ACR funded work examines the role of periodontal disease (and specifically the role of select bacteria that cause PD) in RA – both in terms of disease onset and predicting the severity of the disease.
“ACR REF funding has played a very seminal role in my career – from the receipt of an early training grant as a rheumatology fellow to the more recent Collaborative Research Award. It’s very important to have a funding mechanism focused specifically on rheumatic diseases so that we can make the progress we need in understanding and treating our rheumatology patients.”
Jinoos Yazdany, MD MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Rheumatology
University of California, San Francisco
ACR REF Physician Scientist Development Award (2006)
(Now the ACR REF Rheumatology Scientist Development Award)
- Dr. Yazdany’s primary research focus has been examining the provision of health services to patients with rheumatic diseases, particularly evaluating disparities and the quality of care delivered to these populations.
- Currently, Dr. Yazdany is working at the interface of research and policy, leading national efforts to develop and test quality measures in rheumatology.
“The REF award was my very first grant, and therefore really laid the foundation for my entire career in academic medicine. In those early years, the award protected my time so that I was able to carve out a niche in research that I found intellectually stimulating and of public health importance.”
