TMA’s 2025 Request for Research Proposals: Meredith C. Thomas Memorial Fellowship is now open.
To apply for this grant, please visit our electronic submissions platform and register as an applicant.
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The Myositis Association’s (TMA) Research Grant Program provides financial support to qualified investigators and clinicians for basic, translational, and clinical research across the spectrum of myositis diseases and specialties with the goal of advancing our understanding of the underlying causes and pathophysiology, means of prevention, early detection, accurate diagnosis, effective treatments, and methods for curing myositis and related diseases and complications.
In the 2025 grant cycle, TMA offers a fellowship award for a project related to antisynthetase syndrome and interstitial lung disease (ILD).
TMA’s Meredith Thomas Memorial Fellowship is an award of $107,500 that will be granted for a fellow pursuing a disease-specific, targeted project that meets the following guidelines:
- Advances the understanding of the cause, prevention, detection, treatment, or cure of antisynthetase syndrome and/or myositis interstitial lung disease.
- Treatment may extend beyond medication management into health-related quality of life, such as assessments and interventions that help patients manage physical symptoms, maintain employment, and navigate any mental health or social effects of their illness.
- Priority is given to fellows with a sound implementation plan for multidisciplinary, collaborative research.
- Priority is given to fellows in rheumatology, pulmonology, critical care, or related fields (neurology, dermatology, and other specialties involved in myositis science and care).
- All applicants must exhibit demonstrable commitment to antisynthetase syndrome and/or lung disease as a primary focus within their clinical, research, and career priorities.
TMA fellowships are designed to support early-career physicians, scientists, and investigators who have a career interest in research and/or clinical practice focused on rare autoimmune disease; hold a terminal degree (MD, MD/PhD, PhD); and are enrolled in a formal fellowship program with a myositis experienced mentor.
Grant Application Process
All letters of intent and applications must be submitted through TMA’s electronic submissions platform. TMA’s Research Guidelines provide more specific directions and detailed requirements.
Applications require biographical information in NIH Biosketch format.
Timeline for the 2025 Research Grant Program
- Letter of intent due April 14, 2025
- Invitation for full application by April 21, 2025
- Full application due May 19, 2025
- Notification of awards September 2025
- Funding to begin after November 2025
Funding Details
The $107,500 will be disbursed within an 18-to-24 month funding period that is mutually agreed to by the fellow and TMA. The funding period will begin no earlier than November 2025 and no later than June 2026. These funds are intended to include travel support for attendance at TMA’s International Annual Patient Conference, Meredith’s Legacy Fundraiser, and a scientific or medical conference of the fellow’s choice in which they are reporting on this work.
About The Myositis Association
The Myositis Association is the leading international nonprofit organization committed to the global community of people living with myositis, their care partners, family members, and the medical community. TMA provides patient education and support, advocacy, clinician education, and has provided more than $8 million to help advance the field of myositis research. Learn more at https://www.myositis.org/.
TMA’s Meredith C. Thomas Memorial Fellowship
Meredith Thomas was diagnosed with antisynthetase syndrome and interstitial lung disease and passed away at age 33 in November 2023. In her honor, her family created the fundraiser Meredith’s Legacy to support this Myositis Research Fellowship aimed at funding grants for early-career researchers and clinicians focused on learning more about how best to treat antisynthetase syndrome and interstitial lung disease.
See Research Grant Program FAQs
For more information, contact us at linda@myositis.org.