In This Issue

🩺  2023 Cure JM Research RFP Timeline

🩺  Consensus-Based Treatment Protocols In JDM

🩺  Abatacept Study - Improvement In Refractory JDM

🩺 Cure JM Medical Symposium, May 13, 2023

🩺 Cure JM's Mental Health Workshop For Pediatric Rheumatology Professionals

Cure JM Research Grant RFP Timeline

Our mission is to find better treatments and a cure for juvenile myositis. Cure JM offers grant funding for clinicians and researchers who are working to advance juvenile myositis care and research.

For researchers interested in applying for a grant, click below or reach out to Andrew Heaton, CSO, Cure JM, at andrew.heaton@curejm.org.



RFP Timeline



• Request for proposals begins May 30, 2023
• Application deadline July 30th, 2023
• Review of submitted applications completed September 2023
• Anticipated date for notification of awards is October 2023
• Anticipated funding start date November 1, 2023

Consensus-based Treatment Protocols In JDM

A treatment plan is based on many factors, including the severity and expression of the JDM. Each case is different, and the symptoms can change over time. Some patients suffer more skin rashes, and others suffer from more muscle weakness. Physicians create treatment plans to address individual needs, but all plans are designed to provide the greatest benefit to the patient and minimize side effects.

A group of leading physicians who diagnose and treat JDM patients pooled their collective experience and published a series of consensus plans to standardize and optimize treatment for a spectrum of JDM patients. The plans are divided into categories, which are based on patient diagnosis.

Abatacept Shows Improvement In Refractory JDM



An open-label 24-week study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of abatacept in patients with refractory juvenile dermatomyositis. The study was conducted at the Cure JM Center of Excellence at George Washington University, and preliminary results were presented at the Global Conference on Myositis.

“We have much more data to assess before we publish the results, yet the pilot study showed that patients with refractory JDM treated with abatacept resulted in lower disease activity and clinically significant responses in the majority of patients.”  Dr. Curiel is the Director of the Cure JM Center of Excellence at George Washington University.  

The trial's results have since been published in the American College of Rheumatology. Click below to see the published results of the study.

Register now for the 10th Annual Cure JM Medical Symposium: 

Juvenile Dermatomyositis - Advances in Basic Research, Translational Studies, and Clinical Care.

Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern

Click here to view the full agenda www.curejm.org/symposium

Please reach out to Andrew Heaton, CSO, Cure JM, at andrew.heaton@curejm.org regarding inquires about this event.



CME credits are available through Duke University.

Join us for the Mental Health Training For Pediatric Rheumatology Fellows and Program Directors happening May 19 and May 22, 2023. There will be multiple session times to choose from for the above dates.

In this 2-hour virtual workshop, we will help you develop comfort with mental health conversations, assessment tools, and risk evaluation.The workshop will be co-facilitated by a pediatric/adult rheumatologist (Dr. Rebecca Sadun) and a child/adolescent psychiatrist (Dr. Alison Manning.) 

In addition to didactic components, the workshop includes breakout groups and opportunities for fellows to practice mental health conversations through role-playing and other interactive activities.

For inquires on these sessions, please reach out to Suzanne Edison, Mental Health Coordinator, Cure JM at suzanne.edision@curejm.org.

Join Cure JM families, healthcare providers, and researchers in person in Washington, D.C., for the Cure JM Family Conference happening June 29-July 2, 2023. 

If you are interested in attending or participating, please reach out to Nicole Ryba at nicole.ryba@curejm.org. If you are attending, please let Nicole know what day you are arriving. All clinicians and researchers are invited to arrive on Thursday, June 29, for a special leadership dinner.  

View the agenda at www.curejm.org/conference.

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