Accelerating Autoimmune Treatments through Alopecia Areata Research

描述(申请人提供)：斑秃是一种以脱发为特征的疾病，影响着650万所有年龄、种族和民族的美国人。它更多地发生在影响家庭成员的人中，这表明遗传和遗传是疾病发生的一个因素。这种疾病对身体、社会和心理都有深远的影响。国家斑秃基金会(NAAF)是一个非营利性组织，支持为斑秃找到治愈或可接受的治疗方法的研究，支持患有这种疾病的人，并教育公众斑秃知识。这次峰会对基金会的研究使命至关重要：将来自世界各地相关专业的研究人员聚集在一起，从以前的研究进展中吸取教训，并确定未来的优先事项。NAAF使用这些优先事项来评估研究提案并做出拨款决定。长期目标是安全、有效、负担得起的斑秃治疗或治愈。本次研究峰会计划于2014年12月4日至5日在马里兰州贝塞斯达举行。这次峰会将汇集代表遗传学、免疫学、相关自身免疫性疾病(如1型糖尿病)、皮肤病和包括光疗在内的其他领域的受人尊敬的研究人员。峰会的目标是：1)审查新知识；2)确定有前景的新需要研究的优先次序；3)制定计划和促进伙伴关系；以及4)公布会议成果以分享成果。将妇女、少数群体和残疾人包括在内 这是一个优先事项，因此我们利用了广泛和平衡的知识领域。我们鼓励职业生涯早期的研究人员加入我们，并带来新的想法和新的人才。斑秃的与会者将 确保在确定优先顺序的过程中听取和考虑患者的观点。这次研究峰会的设计为期两天，将一系列简短的演讲与广泛的讨论结合在一起，每个与会者都有一个麦克风。主要研究结果由高级研究人员定期总结，联合主席将带领演讲者和参与者集体分析研究结果，并建议新的研究优先事项和伙伴关系。我们的方法使研究人员能够听到跨多个学科的发现，并参与实质性的问答和讨论，从而促进创新和合作。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Alopecia areata is a disease characterized by hair loss that affects 6.5 million Americans of all ages, races and ethnicities. It occurs more frequently in people who have affected family members, suggesting heredity and genetics are a factor in disease occurrence. The profound effects of the disease are physical, social and psychological. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) is a nonprofit organization that supports research to find a cure or acceptable treatment for alopecia areata, supports those with the disease, and educates the public about alopecia areata. This summit is central to the research mission of the Foundation: bringing together investigators from relevant specialties around the world to distill learning from previous research advances and determine future priorities. NAAF uses these priorities to evaluate research proposals and make grant funding decisions. The long-term objective is a safe, effective, affordable treatment or a cure for alopecia areata. This research summit is planned for December 4-5, 2014 in Bethesda, MD. The summit will bring together esteemed researchers representing genetics, immunology, related autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, dermatology and other fields including phototherapy. Summit objectives are to: 1) review new knowledge; 2) identify and prioritize promising new needed research; 3) develop plans and facilitate partnerships; and 4) publish meeting results to share findings. Inclusion of women, minorities, and people with disabilities is a priority so we draw on a broad and balanced field of knowledge. We encourage early-career investigators to join us and bring fresh ideas and new talent. Attendees with alopecia areata will ensure that the patient perspective is heard and considered in the prioritization process. The design of this research summit is two days combining a series of short presentations with expansive discussion facilitated by each participant having a microphone. Key findings are periodically summarized by senior researchers and co-chairs will lead presenters and participants to collectively analyze findings and recommend new research priorities and partnerships. Our method of enabling researchers to hear findings across multiple disciplines and engage in substantive Q&A and discussion fosters innovation and collaboration.