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CARRA-Arthritis Foundation Advancing Biosample Collection Award

Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance

CARRA’s mission is to conduct collaborative research to prevent, treat, and cure pediatric rheumatic diseases. CARRA was founded on principles of inclusivity and collaboration. Inclusivity in the CARRA Registry, including minoritized populations that have historically been excluded from research in the past, is a key goal.

Program Description This funding opportunity supports biosample collection within the CARRA network to advance CARRA translational research. The goal is to collect biosamples from patients enrolled in the CARRA Registry, to be used by CARRA investigators for future hypothesis-based research. This mechanism funds the collection of biosamples at CARRA Registry sites utilizing the CARRA Registry biosample consent form. Priority will be given to funded projects.

• Biosamples may be collected only at current and active CARRA Registry sites in good standing and from patients who are enrolled in the CARRA Registry.

• Only CARRA standard collection kits are permitted. See “Biosample Collection Options” below.

• Applications must include a hypothesis-based research plan for future use of the proposed biosample collection.

• Funds will remain within CARRA to be used to pay biosample collection costs. Funds will be used to pay for biosample collection tubes/kits and shipping, CARRA Biobank fees, a one-time site eligibility report, CARRA Registry site payments for biosample collections, DCRI support, and CARRA administrative support needed to manage the process.

• The following costs are not allowable for this award:

• CARRA Registry data collection costs, including the enrollment of any patients who are not currently eligible for CARRA Registry enrollment

• Investigator effort

• Costs related to the future analysis of the biosamples

• The principal investigator(s) are expected to collaborate continuously with the TRC, DCRI, and CARRA Biobank to ensure the biosample collection is successful. Up to 2 grants will be awarded. All applications must focus on areas identified in the 2023–2025 CARRA-Arthritis Foundation Inflammatory Arthritis Research Agenda.

Special consideration will be given to applications addressing the specific topics listed below, which were considered among patients, caregivers, and providers to be of critical importance:

• Precision medicine • Identifying diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers

• Uncovering factors that affect an individual’s experience with starting and/or stopping medications

• Identifying genetic, environmental, and/or lifestyle factors that impact overall safety and long-term medication use for individuals with juvenile inflammatory arthritis

• Long-term health outcomes

• PROs, impact on health-related quality of life, health disparities, and other related issues

• Treatment related issues

• Safety and the impact of specific medications New or early-career investigators are encouraged to apply.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Strong Fit to Pediatric Rheumatology / Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases

Projects must clearly address a pediatric rheumatic disease (e.g., JIA, systemic lupus in children, juvenile dermatomyositis, uveitis associated with JIA).

Because CARRA is designed around children’s disease, proposals that are largely adult-disease focused or without pediatric relevance are at risk of being scored lower.
Predictor: Your application should explicitly specify a pediatric rheumatology disease or population, and show relevance to children/families.

2. Use or Leverage of CARRA Infrastructure or Collaborative Model

CARRA has a strong emphasis on multi-site, multi-investigator collaborative research and registry/biobank usage. For example: “Supports research that utilizes the CARRA Registry and/or biorepository …” in one of their grant types. rheumresearch.org+1

Using the registry allows for larger, more representative samples in pediatric rheumatology.
Predictor: Proposals that leverage the CARRA registry, network or multi-centre collaborations often do better (feasibility, scale, impact).

3. Appropriate Grant Mechanism for Your Career Stage & Project Scope

CARRA offers a variety of award types: small “Fellows” grants for trainees (~US $25,000 for 1 year) rheumresearch.org; “Small Grant” (~$50K/1 year) rheumresearch.org; “Pilot JIA Translational Research Grant” (~$175K/2 years) rheumresearch.org; “Mentored Career Development Award” (~$375K/3 years) for early investigators. rheumresearch.org

Matching your career level (fellow, early faculty, independent investigator) to the mechanism is critical.
Predictor: Choose the CARRA award that matches your current role, research maturity, and budget needs.

4. Feasibility with Milestones and Realistic Plan

Given the network and multi-site nature of CARRA’s work, reviewers will look for: clear aims, realistic timelines, mechanisms for recruitment/enrolment (especially using the registry), defined endpoints, risk mitigation.

For example, small grants were awarded for retrospective registry cohort studies (see 2019 Childhood Research Grants example). arthritis.org
Predictor: Applications that include a detailed, realistic plan with milestones and show that the project can be completed within the grant period score better.

5. Innovation & Translational Relevance

While feasibility is key, the strongest applications also propose something novel or impactful: e.g., a new biomarker in JIA, translational use of registry data to inform treatment decisions, a pilot multi-centre intervention.

For example, one funded project in 2019: using the CARRA registry to study “biologic discontinuation in systemic JIA and predictors of flare.” arthritis.org
Predictor: Proposals that address an important gap in pediatric rheumatology, promise to influence care, or use new methods are more competitive.

6. Demonstrated Commitment to Pediatric Rheumatology Research Career

Early investigators applying for career-development awards should demonstrate that they are committed to a research career in pediatric rheumatology, have relevant training, and have mentorship/institutional support.

Network models like CARRA emphasise building the pipeline of pediatric rheumatology investigators. The Rheumatologist
Predictor: Showing career trajectory, mentorship, and institutional backing improves success odds.

7. Strong Collaboration & Team Approach

Since CARRA functions via collaborative mechanisms, having co-investigators from different centres, multi-disciplinary teams (clinician, biostatistician, registry specialist) supports credibility.

Multi-site studies align well with their mission to generate generalizable pediatric rheumatology data.
Predictor: A multi‐centre, collaborative team increases competitiveness.

8. Clear Impact on Patients/Families & Child-Centered Outcomes

Because CARRA’s mission emphasises improving outcomes for children and families with rheumatic disease, proposals that articulate patient/family relevance, child‐friendly endpoints, or quality‐of‐life aspects add value.

The 2024 survey via CARRA’s JA INSIGHTS (pain burden in juvenile arthritis) is one example of child-centred research using CARRA infrastructure. BioMed Central
Predictor: Proposals that highlight child/family impact, patient-centred outcomes or real‐world relevance are stronger.

9. Budget and Grant Duration Appropriate for Scope

Respect the stated maximum award amounts and durations in each RFP (e.g., 1-year fellows grant, up to US $25K; small grant 1 year at US $50K; pilot research 2 years at US $175K). rheumresearch.org
Predictor: A budget that is aligned with the grant's allowed maximum, and avoids over‐scope, resonates better.

10. Clear Writing & Logical Structure

As with any competitive grant, clarity, good writing, clear hypotheses, well‐structured aims, and justification of methods matter enormously.
Predictor: Applications that are well‐written, clearly justified, readily understood by reviewers tend to succeed.

🗓 Summary Table of Typical CARRA Grant Types & Key Fit

Grant Type	Audience	Key Success Fit
Fellows Grant (~US $25K/1yr)	Trainees/fellows	Feasible pilot, mentorship emphasized
Small Grant (~US $50K/1yr)	Early‐stage investigator	Single centre or registry retrospective study
Pilot JIA Translational Research (~US $175K/2yrs)	Early investigators targeting JIA	Multi‐centre, translational, registry‐leveraged
Mentored Career Development (~US $375K/3yrs)	Early independent investigators	Career development plan + pediatric rheumatology focus

🎯 Final Tips for Applicants to CARRA

Engage with the CARRA network early: attend meetings, collaborate with CARRA committees, understand the registry and its strengths.

Leverage the CARRA Registry or biorepository: if feasible, build your project around existing infrastructure.

Design a child‐fibred, pediatric rheumatology project: articulate why children matter and how your research improves pediatric care.

Assemble a strong mentorship and team environment: especially if you are early‐career.

Be realistic: match scope to grant size and duration.

Write clearly: define specific aims, milestones, endpoints; articulate innovation; show plan for next steps and future funding.

Specialties

Rheumatology

Eligibility Requirements

• The project principal investigator (PI) must be a CARRA member in good standing (up to date on membership dues and member profile is current and accurate).

• The PI must have served as a PI or co-investigator (co-I) on a research study that has successfully requested CARRA Registry data, completed the research, and published results.

• Applicants must hold an advanced degree (MD or equivalent, PhD, or MD/PhD) and must have a faculty or equivalent government appointment.

• All applications must be submitted by or include a pediatric rheumatologist named as a co-I).

• The project PI or co-PI must be a member of the CARRA Registry network.

• While not eligible to serve as PIs, the following may serve as team members: medical and graduate students, research professional members who are regulatory or data coordinators, business and industry associate members, and nonprofit/government associate members.

• CARRA board members or those in executive leadership positions may not serve as study leadership.

• Previous and current CARRA awardees who wish to submit new grant applications must be up to date on all award deliverables.

• All sites proposing to collect samples under this grant mechanism must be current, active CARRA Registry sites. Participating site investigators must also be listed authorized personnel on the current CARRA Registry delegation of authority log, managed by DCRI.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20036

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