Research Achievements

A task that seemed daunting 20 years ago – to change the world for patients diagnosed with juvenile myositis – is now within our reach. Children diagnosed with juvenile myositis today are doing better than at any other time in history.  

Thanks to your support, we have made crucial research investments that are resulting in better outcomes for patients, including:

  • Reducing diagnosis time by 75%, from 12 months to less than three months
  • Improving care and treatment protocols to help kids get the best care
  • Investing in research and partnerships to advance new treatments, such as rituximab, abatacept, and others.
     
    And this is just the beginning.  
     
    As we look to the future, we remain laser-focused on:
  • Accelerating scientific discovery to better understand juvenile myositis so we can better treat it and one day prevent it
  • Expediting the development of new and repurposed treatments so patients have the most effective treatments without the devastating side effects
  • Helping patients get the best possible care
  • Investing in novel new approaches to the disease, including therapies at the genetic level that we hope could one day lead to long-term remission
     

One critical immediate goal is to expedite the availability of new treatments. Today, juvenile myositis is generally treated with drugs that broadly shut down the immune system, largely chemotherapy,and corticosteroids. These treatments can be quite effective, but they also block the immune responses necessary to fight off viruses and germs. This means there are a lot of side effects to these treatments. That is why we are investing in alternative approaches: to control the parts of the immune system that are not working correctly, while leaving the rest of the immune system functioning. We hope this will allow children to conquer juvenile myositis while living their best lives.
 
We could not accomplish any of this without you – our friends and families.
 
To learn more about your impact, we invite you to review our Impact Report here.

Doctor with parent and juvenile myositis patient.

Treatment Plans for Juvenile Myositis

A treatment plan is based on many factors, including the severity and expression of the juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). Each case is different and the symptoms can change over time.

Clinician's September Summit 2024

Juvenile Myositis Clinical Care Summit

We are pleased to invite all juvenile dermatomyositis healthcare professionals to join us virtually for the latest presentations, sharing clinical best practices to help providers diagnose, treat, and care for juvenile myositis patients.

Ask The Doc: Why Exercise and Nutrition Are Important In JM with Brian Feldman MD

Ask The Doc: Why Exercise and Nutrition Are Important In JM

We are honored to share this insightful presentation and Q&A on the importance of exercise and nutrition in treating juvenile myositis with Dr. Brian Feldman of The Hospital for Sick Children and the Cure JM Clinical Care Network.

What role does exercise and nutrition play in JM treatment? When should JM patients be cleared for exercise? What effects do exercise and nutrition have on disease outcomes?

Join Cure JM

Membership is free and we’ll connect you with a network of support, encouragement, and resources.

Cure JM supports families, patients, and the juvenile myositis research community.

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