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♪ (music playing) ♪

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Dr. Shanmugam: Welcome to the
launch of the inaugural

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NIH-wide strategic
plan for autoimmune

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disease research for 
fiscal years 2026-2030.

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Thank you for joining us.

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My name is
Dr. Victoria Shanmugam.

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I'm the chair of
the Coordinating

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Committee for Autoimmune
Disease Research,

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which is the
NIH-wide committee

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charged with
developing this first

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NIH-wide strategic plan for 
autoimmune disease research.

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It is my very great
pleasure to introduce

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the Director
of the National

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Institutes of Health,

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Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, to provide
some opening remarks.

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Dr. Bhattacharya: Thank you 
for joining us to celebrate the

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launch of the inaugural
NIH-wide strategic

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plan for autoimmune
disease research

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for fiscal years
2026-2030.

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This plan represents
the NIH's unwavering

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commitment to address
the chronic disease

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crisis in the United
States and to improve

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the health and well-being
of the American people.

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Autoimmune diseases
influence every system

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in the body and pose
significant risks to

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human health
throughout the lifespan.

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Between 23.5 and
50 million people in

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America are estimated
to be living with

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one or more
autoimmune diseases.

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Collectively,
autoimmune diseases

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represent some of
the most common

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chronic diseases
affecting the U.S.

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population.

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Autoimmune diseases
carry substantial

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costs, estimated
more than $100 billion

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per year for health care in 
the United States.

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When we consider
indirect costs such as

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loss productivity and
the broader impact

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on dependents,
families, and society,

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the true costs of the
American people are

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likely much
higher than that.

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While significant
progress has been made

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and continues to be
made in autoimmune

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disease research
across the NIH,

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more work is
needed to accelerate

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diagnostics,
therapeutics, and bring

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scientific discoveries
to the bedside.

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The strategic plan
proposes a coordinated

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approach to foster
collaboration and

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innovation so the
people can flourish.

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We can prioritize
research that addresses

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the health needs of
the American people.

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We will work together
with people living

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with autoimmune
diseases, integrating the

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perspectives and
experiences so that

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scientific inquiry
focuses on

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their most pressing
health needs.

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This approach will
not only enhance

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understanding of
disease pathogenesis but

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also expedites the development
of novel therapeutics.

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Recent innovations
offer unprecedented

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opportunities to
dissect the molecular

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basis of autoimmune
disease at a scale

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that was never
achievable before.

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This strategy will
promote collaboration

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across scientific
groups and disciplines,

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bolster infrastructure
and investments,

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and support basic
clinical, translational,

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epidemiologic, and
implementation

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science work.

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The plan is a
testament the NIH's

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dedication to
advance human health.

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It's my hope that
this plan will serve

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as a catalyst for
transformative change,

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ultimately
improving the lives of

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all people
living with and at

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risk of autoimmune diseases.

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Thank you.

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Dr. Shanmugam: 
Thank you, Dr. Bhattacharya.

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I want to begin this
presentation of the

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inaugural NIH-wide
strategic plan for

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autoimmune disease
research for fiscal

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years 2026-2030
with a summary

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of the background
that led to the

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development
of this initiative.

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Aligned with content
from the 2022 report

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from the National
Academies of Sciences,

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Engineering and
Medicine, Congress

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directed NIH to
establish the Office of

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Autoimmune Disease
Research in the Office

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of Research on
Women's Health and tasked

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the Office with the 
following six directives.

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To coordinate the
development of the

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multi-IC strategic
research plan with

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concrete meaningful
milestones to set

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priorities. As part
of the internal and

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external outreach
for the strategic plan,

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to identify emerging
areas of innovation

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and research opportunity.

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To coordinate and
foster collaborative

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research across
the Institutes and

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Centers. To
annually evaluate the

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autoimmune research
portfolio to determine

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progress made
across the NIH.

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To provide resources
to support planning,

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collaboration and
innovation. And to

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develop and oversee
a publicly accessible

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central repository for 
autoimmune disease research.

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The NIH supports a
broad range of basic

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and clinical research
on autoimmunity

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and autoimmune disease.

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The baseline
landscape analysis of the

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NIH-funded autoimmune
disease research

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portfolio included
the more than 140

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diseases and
conditions included in the

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NASEM report that
are either autoimmune or

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commonly co-occur
with autoimmune

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diseases as
listed on this slide.

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NIH's investment in
autoimmune disease

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research increased
from $800 million in

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fiscal year 2018 to more than 
$1 billion in 2022.

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While autoimmune
disease research is

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currently funded
across every single

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institute and center
at NIH, current funding

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levels are not
proportional to the

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rising prevalence
of autoimmune

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diseases, highlighting
a significant gap.

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The autoimmune
disease research

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portfolio serves as
a vital reference for

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pinpointing areas
that require additional

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investment to ensure
progress in the field

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of autoimmune
disease research.

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Between 23.5 and
50 million Americans

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are living with
autoimmune diseases,

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collectively making
autoimmune disease

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one of the most common
chronic conditions

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affecting the
American people.

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To place this in
context, autoimmune

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diseases
affect more Americans

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than coronary artery
disease, chronic

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obstructive
pulmonary diseases,

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and other chronic diseases as 
shown in this graph.

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While autoimmune
diseases more commonly

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affect women, men with
autoimmune diseases

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tend to have more
severe disease and in

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some cases a higher risk
of dying from their disease.

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The mission of the
NIH-wide strategic

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plan for autoimmune
disease research is to

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coordinate and
advance efforts to support

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rigorous, high-priority,
innovative and

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collaborative autoimmune
disease research.

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One in four people
living with autoimmune

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disease has more
than one and rates of

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these conditions
are rising more

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rapidly than genetics
alone can explain.

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This suggests
that both genes and

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environmental factors
play important roles

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in the development of
autoimmunity.

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Many autoimmune
diseases have a period of

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asymptomatic autoimmunity
known as

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the prodrome, with
the appearance of

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autoantibodies
and other markers of

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immune activation before the 
development of symptoms.

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In some diseases
like type 1 diabetes,

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the prodrome can be as
short as a few months.

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However, NIH research
has shown that in

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other autoimmune
diseases like systemic

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lupus erythematosus,
autoantibodies

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may develop more
than five years before

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the disease becomes
clinically apparent.

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In other diseases
like multiple sclerosis,

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this prodromal
period can last

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for a decade
or even longer.

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This window of
asymptomatic autoimmunity

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offers a
unique opportunity for

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early intervention
and recent

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groundbreaking
research has led to the

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approval of a new
immunosuppressing

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therapy for people
in the prodromal stage

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of type 1 diabetes,
delaying the onset

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of disease in
those at high risk.

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This is the first
FDA-approved treatment

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specifically aimed
at preventing

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progression during
that prodromal

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phase of autoimmunity.

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And it provides
promising evidence that

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similar preventative
strategies could be

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possible for other 
chronic autoimmune diseases.

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Various exposures
and triggers likely

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contribute to the development
of autoimmuntity.

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The field of exposome
research looks at the

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totality of these
exposures ranging from

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diet and stress
to pollutants and

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social conditions
across a lifetime.

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In 2010, an NIH
convened expert panel

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recognized clear links
between autoimmune

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diseases and various
environmental

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exposures.

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However, studying
these factors is

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challenging due
to the complexity

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and timing of exposures.

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Despite these
challenges, understanding

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how these cumulative
exposures interact

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over time is essential
to uncovering

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the biologic pathways
behind disease.

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And by following
groups of people at risk

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or living with autoimmune
conditions and

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using advanced
data analysis, we can

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better predict, prevent,
diagnose, and treat

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these diseases
in the future.

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Development of the
NIH-wide strategic plan

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for autoimmune disease
research began in

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2023 with the
formation of the Office of

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Autoimmune Disease
Research in the Office

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of Research on
Women's Health.

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The Office of Autoimmune
Disease Research

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convened an internal
NIH coordinating

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committee for autoimmune
disease research

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or CCADR with
representatives from across

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NIH institutes,
centers, and offices.

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The committee
formed a strategic plan

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working group
which met regularly to

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evaluate and integrate
data from multiple

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sources including
responses to the request

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for information,
dialogues at community

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roundtable sessions,
input from NIH

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institute, center,
and office directors,

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data from public
health organizations,

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the analysis of
the existing NIH

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autoimmune disease
research portfolio and

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recommendations
from the scientific

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literature and
relevant reports.

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Using the NIH Common
Template to guide the

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strategic planning
process, the working

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group identified
key priorities in

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multiple areas
including research,

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capacity and
operational priorities

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as well as
cross-cutting themes.

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In December 2023,
in coordination with the

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strategic plan working
group, the Office

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of Autoimmune Disease
Research issued a

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request for
information to gather

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input from the
public on the

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development of
the strategic plan.

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A summary of the
responses received is

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published alongside
this strategic plan

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and is available
for download on

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our website by
scanning the QR code.

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The Office also
hosted two virtual

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community 
roundtable discussions in

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February 2024 to
garner additional

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insights from
academic, patients

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and patient
advocacy partners.

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Responses from
all branches of the

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autoimmune disease
community were received

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including those from
people living with

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and at risk for
autoimmune disease as well

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as scientists
and researchers

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who helped study
these diseases.

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00:10:27,460 --> 00:10:29,629
This insightful input
was instrumental

261
00:10:29,629 --> 00:10:31,130
in guiding the crafting of

262
00:10:31,130 --> 00:10:33,099
the inaugural
strategic plan.

263
00:10:33,433 --> 00:10:35,702
And the quotes on
this slide are simply a

264
00:10:35,702 --> 00:10:38,137
select sample covering
topics related to

265
00:10:38,137 --> 00:10:40,039
the exposome and the
design of research

266
00:10:40,039 --> 00:10:42,175
studies involving
people living with and

267
00:10:42,175 --> 00:10:44,210
at risk for
autoimmune disease.

268
00:10:45,111 --> 00:10:47,147
Recommendations
from the National

269
00:10:47,147 --> 00:10:49,716
Academies report,
Enhancing NIH research on

270
00:10:49,716 --> 00:10:51,518
autoimmune
disease, were also

271
00:10:51,518 --> 00:10:54,020
incorporated into
the planning process.

272
00:10:54,454 --> 00:10:56,689
These included the
need for long term

273
00:10:56,689 --> 00:10:59,158
epidemiologic data
and the development of

274
00:10:59,158 --> 00:11:01,394
population cohorts
beginning before

275
00:11:01,394 --> 00:11:04,063
disease onset and
addressing key gaps in

276
00:11:04,063 --> 00:11:05,398
the current
research portfolio.

277
00:11:06,166 --> 00:11:09,202
This slide summarizes
graphically the

278
00:11:09,202 --> 00:11:11,738
inaugural NIH-wide
strategic plan

279
00:11:11,738 --> 00:11:13,540
for autoimmune
disease research.

280
00:11:14,307 --> 00:11:15,909
The five strategic
priorities and

281
00:11:15,909 --> 00:11:17,977
objectives are listed
in the five circles

282
00:11:17,977 --> 00:11:21,981
in this graphic and 
include, priority one,

283
00:11:21,981 --> 00:11:24,717
accelerating
scientific discovery in

284
00:11:24,717 --> 00:11:27,153
diagnosis,
treatment, prevention,

285
00:11:27,153 --> 00:11:29,188
and cure of
autoimmune diseases.

286
00:11:29,923 --> 00:11:33,026
Priority two, promoting
research focused

287
00:11:33,026 --> 00:11:35,762
on enhancing health
for people living with

288
00:11:35,762 --> 00:11:37,864
and at risk for
autoimmune diseases.

289
00:11:39,065 --> 00:11:41,234
Priority three,
supporting research

290
00:11:41,234 --> 00:11:43,403
to understand
the full complexity

291
00:11:43,403 --> 00:11:44,871
of autoimmune diseases.

292
00:11:46,272 --> 00:11:48,608
Priority four, building
and maintaining

293
00:11:48,608 --> 00:11:51,110
capacity for autoimmune
disease research.

294
00:11:51,911 --> 00:11:53,580
And priority five, 
building and

295
00:11:53,580 --> 00:11:55,248
strengthening
partnerships and

296
00:11:55,248 --> 00:11:57,617
interdisciplinary
collaborations across

297
00:11:57,617 --> 00:11:59,686
the autoimmune
disease community.

298
00:12:00,687 --> 00:12:02,522
These five
priorities are further

299
00:12:02,522 --> 00:12:04,591
supported by five
cross-cussing themes

300
00:12:04,591 --> 00:12:07,961
which are woven throughout
each priority and include,

301
00:12:07,961 --> 00:12:09,796
harnessing
technologies to

302
00:12:09,796 --> 00:12:12,298
advance autoimmune
disease research,

303
00:12:12,298 --> 00:12:14,634
developing
infrastructure for the

304
00:12:14,634 --> 00:12:17,537
translation of
autoimmune disease research,

305
00:12:17,537 --> 00:12:20,707
supporting
multimodal data

306
00:12:20,707 --> 00:12:23,443
driven approaches for
autoimmune disease research,

307
00:12:23,443 --> 00:12:26,245
promoting
the engagement of all

308
00:12:26,245 --> 00:12:28,548
populations in
autoimmune disease research,

309
00:12:28,548 --> 00:12:30,917
and
supporting community

310
00:12:30,917 --> 00:12:33,123
partnerships for autoimmune
disease

311
00:12:33,123 --> 00:12:33,753
research.

312
00:12:34,721 --> 00:12:37,156
Each of the
priorities includes four

313
00:12:37,156 --> 00:12:39,926
concrete meaningful
objectives which are

314
00:12:39,926 --> 00:12:42,128
outlined in the
following slides and will

315
00:12:42,128 --> 00:12:44,430
act as a roadmap for
NIH-funded autoimmune

316
00:12:44,430 --> 00:12:47,684
disease research for fiscal
years

317
00:12:47,684 --> 00:12:48,768
2026-2030.

318
00:12:49,636 --> 00:12:52,105
Priority one recognizes
that advances in

319
00:12:52,105 --> 00:12:54,607
basic science are
critical for improving

320
00:12:54,607 --> 00:12:56,609
our fundamental
understanding of

321
00:12:56,609 --> 00:12:58,678
autoimmunity,
catalyzing novel and

322
00:12:58,678 --> 00:13:00,480
clinical research,
and ultimately

323
00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,682
translating knowledge
into real benefits

324
00:13:02,682 --> 00:13:04,651
for people living
with autoimmune

325
00:13:04,651 --> 00:13:07,654
diseases, those at risk
and their communities.

326
00:13:08,354 --> 00:13:10,356
Within this priority, there are
four

327
00:13:10,356 --> 00:13:11,024
objectives.

328
00:13:11,991 --> 00:13:13,860
To support research
into fundamental

329
00:13:13,860 --> 00:13:15,995
mechanisms of
autoimmunity and autoimmune

330
00:13:15,995 --> 00:13:18,765
disease, to advance
understanding of

331
00:13:18,765 --> 00:13:21,501
drivers of autoimmune
disease signs,

332
00:13:21,501 --> 00:13:24,170
symptoms and
flares, to optimize

333
00:13:24,170 --> 00:13:26,372
development of
research models for

334
00:13:26,372 --> 00:13:28,875
studying autoimmune
diseases, and to

335
00:13:28,875 --> 00:13:31,611
improve understanding
of predictors and

336
00:13:31,611 --> 00:13:34,981
risk factors for autoimmunity
across the lifespan.

337
00:13:36,449 --> 00:13:38,051
Timely diagnosis,
treatment and

338
00:13:38,051 --> 00:13:40,286
intervention are
critical for improving

339
00:13:40,286 --> 00:13:42,021
outcomes in
autoimmune diseases.

340
00:13:42,822 --> 00:13:44,724
Research focused
on developing accurate

341
00:13:44,724 --> 00:13:46,793
diagnostics and
effective treatments that

342
00:13:46,793 --> 00:13:48,695
are accessible
and deployable in

343
00:13:48,695 --> 00:13:51,130
real-world settings
are needed to support

344
00:13:51,130 --> 00:13:53,232
tangible improvements
in health for people

345
00:13:53,232 --> 00:13:56,169
living with and at risk
for autoimmune disease.

346
00:13:56,736 --> 00:13:59,472
The objectives
included in priority two

347
00:13:59,472 --> 00:14:02,041
are to support
research investigating

348
00:14:02,241 --> 00:14:04,977
preclinical
autoimmunity, to advance

349
00:14:04,977 --> 00:14:08,081
research to accelerate
accurate diagnosis

350
00:14:08,081 --> 00:14:11,017
of autoimmune disease,
to bolster research

351
00:14:11,017 --> 00:14:13,419
focused on improving
treatments for

352
00:14:13,419 --> 00:14:15,388
autoimmune disease,
and to support

353
00:14:15,388 --> 00:14:17,490
implementation
science for autoimmune

354
00:14:17,490 --> 00:14:20,093
disease research
across all populations.

355
00:14:21,728 --> 00:14:23,896
The incidence of
autoimmune diseases is

356
00:14:23,896 --> 00:14:26,399
rising globally and
there are many gaps in

357
00:14:26,399 --> 00:14:28,735
understanding of how
autoimmune diseases

358
00:14:28,735 --> 00:14:30,737
affect health
across the lifespan.

359
00:14:31,370 --> 00:14:33,706
The objectives
under priority three

360
00:14:33,706 --> 00:14:36,209
include to support
the study of human

361
00:14:36,209 --> 00:14:39,011
cohorts for autoimmune
disease research,

362
00:14:39,011 --> 00:14:41,614
to promote research
to understand how

363
00:14:41,614 --> 00:14:43,883
different populations
are affected by

364
00:14:43,883 --> 00:14:46,285
autoimmune diseases,
to advance research

365
00:14:46,285 --> 00:14:48,421
that will facilitate
clinical trials

366
00:14:48,421 --> 00:14:50,723
for autoimmune
diseases, and to expand

367
00:14:50,723 --> 00:14:53,059
autoimmune disease
research focused on

368
00:14:53,059 --> 00:14:55,294
co-occurring and
comorbid conditions.

369
00:14:56,262 --> 00:14:58,264
Developing and
maintaining infrastructure

370
00:14:58,264 --> 00:15:00,299
and the scientific
workforce are important

371
00:15:00,299 --> 00:15:02,535
to ensure that high
priority autoimmune

372
00:15:02,535 --> 00:15:04,804
disease research can
be completed and to

373
00:15:04,804 --> 00:15:06,539
further accelerate
the translation of

374
00:15:06,539 --> 00:15:09,375
scientific discoveries into
improvements in health.

375
00:15:09,609 --> 00:15:12,078
Within priority
four, the objectives

376
00:15:12,078 --> 00:15:14,580
include to prioritize
and support the

377
00:15:14,580 --> 00:15:16,315
development of
infrastructure for

378
00:15:16,315 --> 00:15:17,784
autoimmune
disease research,

379
00:15:17,784 --> 00:15:19,886
to integrate clinical
trial networks and

380
00:15:19,886 --> 00:15:22,388
registries in autoimmune
disease research,

381
00:15:22,388 --> 00:15:25,291
to develop data science
and computational

382
00:15:25,291 --> 00:15:27,460
tools to accelerate
autoimmune disease

383
00:15:27,460 --> 00:15:30,096
research, and to
support efforts to

384
00:15:30,096 --> 00:15:33,266
develop and sustain
the scientific workforce.

385
00:15:33,966 --> 00:15:35,835
Developing and
maintaining partnerships

386
00:15:35,835 --> 00:15:37,737
and collaborations
across the autoimmune

387
00:15:37,737 --> 00:15:39,739
disease community
is crucial to

388
00:15:39,739 --> 00:15:41,841
stimulate innovation
in research.

389
00:15:42,441 --> 00:15:44,076
To build and
strengthen these

390
00:15:44,076 --> 00:15:46,345
partnerships, the
objectives included in

391
00:15:46,345 --> 00:15:48,281
priority five
are to leverage

392
00:15:48,281 --> 00:15:50,783
public-private
partnerships to support

393
00:15:50,783 --> 00:15:53,352
autoimmune disease
research, to engage

394
00:15:53,352 --> 00:15:56,289
people living with
autoimmune diseases,

395
00:15:56,289 --> 00:15:58,758
patient advocacy
groups and caregivers

396
00:15:58,758 --> 00:16:01,027
in research, to
partner with people and

397
00:16:01,027 --> 00:16:03,429
communities
disproportionately affected

398
00:16:03,429 --> 00:16:05,765
by autoimmune
disease outcomes, and to

399
00:16:05,765 --> 00:16:07,711
coordinate and foster
collaborative

400
00:16:07,711 --> 00:16:08,267
research.

401
00:16:09,335 --> 00:16:11,270
As previously
stated, interwoven

402
00:16:11,270 --> 00:16:13,272
throughout the
strategic plan,

403
00:16:13,272 --> 00:16:15,141
five cross-cutting
themes complement

404
00:16:15,141 --> 00:16:17,210
the strategic priorities
and objectives,

405
00:16:17,610 --> 00:16:20,279
and these include
harnessing technologies

406
00:16:20,279 --> 00:16:22,815
to advance autoimmune
disease research,

407
00:16:23,516 --> 00:16:25,718
developing infrastructure
for translation

408
00:16:25,718 --> 00:16:27,453
of autoimmune
disease research,

409
00:16:28,020 --> 00:16:29,689
supporting
multimodal data-driven

410
00:16:29,689 --> 00:16:31,357
approaches for
autoimmune disease

411
00:16:31,357 --> 00:16:33,960
research, promoting
the engagement of

412
00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,562
all populations in
autoimmune disease

413
00:16:36,562 --> 00:16:38,631
research, and
supporting community

414
00:16:38,631 --> 00:16:41,734
partnerships for
autoimmune disease research.

415
00:16:42,535 --> 00:16:44,704
The strategic
priorities and objectives

416
00:16:44,704 --> 00:16:46,973
are available in
the full strategic plan

417
00:16:46,973 --> 00:16:49,008
and in the
accompanying one-pager.

418
00:16:49,008 --> 00:16:51,244
Clicking on this
link or scanning

419
00:16:51,244 --> 00:16:53,479
this QR code will
lead you there.

420
00:16:53,980 --> 00:16:56,582
The NIH-wide strategic
plan for autoimmune

421
00:16:56,582 --> 00:16:58,851
disease research
sets forth a unified

422
00:16:58,851 --> 00:17:01,220
approach to
accelerate scientific

423
00:17:01,220 --> 00:17:04,023
discovery, expand
capacity and catalyze

424
00:17:04,023 --> 00:17:05,896
critical partnerships in
autoimmune

425
00:17:05,896 --> 00:17:06,859
disease research.

426
00:17:07,393 --> 00:17:09,595
This plan will serve
as a framework for

427
00:17:09,595 --> 00:17:11,864
priority setting for
NIH-funded research

428
00:17:11,864 --> 00:17:14,233
over the next five
years, with the voices

429
00:17:14,233 --> 00:17:16,168
of people living
with autoimmune

430
00:17:16,168 --> 00:17:17,737
diseases remaining
paramount.

431
00:17:18,871 --> 00:17:20,907
Implementing this
strategic plan will

432
00:17:20,907 --> 00:17:23,209
accelerate discoveries
leading to improved

433
00:17:23,209 --> 00:17:25,444
health outcomes
and better well-being

434
00:17:25,444 --> 00:17:27,280
for all people
living with or

435
00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,081
at risk for
autoimmune diseases.

436
00:17:30,116 --> 00:17:32,118
In this figure, you
can see a schema

437
00:17:32,118 --> 00:17:33,953
outlining the
implementation plan,

438
00:17:33,953 --> 00:17:36,589
including expanding
on existing and

439
00:17:36,589 --> 00:17:38,791
ongoing activities,
employing a unified

440
00:17:38,791 --> 00:17:40,593
approach to
accelerate progress,

441
00:17:40,593 --> 00:17:42,428
and achieving
bold initiatives.

442
00:17:43,362 --> 00:17:45,464
In collaboration
with the Institutes and

443
00:17:45,464 --> 00:17:47,700
Centers, we will
closely monitor and

444
00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:49,969
evaluate progress
working together to

445
00:17:49,969 --> 00:17:52,104
create opportunities,
address gaps,

446
00:17:52,405 --> 00:17:54,640
and encourage
cross-disciplinary partnerships.

447
00:17:55,474 --> 00:17:58,110
In closing, this
strategic plan would not

448
00:17:58,110 --> 00:18:00,479
have been possible
without the hard work

449
00:18:00,479 --> 00:18:02,982
of everyone who
served on the NIH

450
00:18:02,982 --> 00:18:04,917
Coordinating Committee
for autoimmune

451
00:18:04,917 --> 00:18:07,119
disease research,
particularly the members

452
00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:10,423
of the strategic plan
working group listed here.

453
00:18:10,423 --> 00:18:12,959
Thank you for everything
you do every day

454
00:18:12,959 --> 00:18:15,328
to support autoimmune
disease research.

455
00:18:16,262 --> 00:18:17,630
Thank you all for listening.

456
00:18:17,997 --> 00:18:19,966
I hope you take an
opportunity to read

457
00:18:19,966 --> 00:18:23,235
the full strategic plan
available on our website.

458
00:18:23,235 --> 00:18:24,837
And now, I would
like to introduce

459
00:18:24,837 --> 00:18:28,341
Dr. Janine Austin Clayton,
NIH Associate

460
00:18:28,341 --> 00:18:30,810
Director for Research
on Women's Health

461
00:18:30,810 --> 00:18:32,478
and Director
of the Office of

462
00:18:32,478 --> 00:18:34,180
Research on Women's Health.

463
00:18:35,181 --> 00:18:36,735
Dr. Clayton: Thank you for
joining

464
00:18:36,735 --> 00:18:37,650
us to celebrate the

465
00:18:37,650 --> 00:18:40,252
launch of the inaugural
NIH-wide strategic

466
00:18:40,252 --> 00:18:42,955
plan for autoimmune
disease research

467
00:18:42,955 --> 00:18:45,691
for fiscal years
2026 through 2030.

468
00:18:46,425 --> 00:18:48,494
The Office of Autoimmune
Disease Research was

469
00:18:48,494 --> 00:18:50,629
established in the
Office of Research on

470
00:18:50,629 --> 00:18:52,932
Women's Health
in 2023 in response

471
00:18:52,932 --> 00:18:55,301
to a congressional
request to enhance

472
00:18:55,301 --> 00:18:57,603
coordination across
NIH autoimmune

473
00:18:57,603 --> 00:18:59,305
disease research efforts.

474
00:19:00,006 --> 00:19:02,108
As the director of
the Office of Research

475
00:19:02,108 --> 00:19:04,110
on Women's Health,
it is my pleasure to

476
00:19:04,110 --> 00:19:06,278
stand up the Office
of Autoimmune Disease

477
00:19:06,278 --> 00:19:07,780
research and
to bring on

478
00:19:07,780 --> 00:19:10,383
Dr. Shanmugam as the
inaugural director.

479
00:19:11,017 --> 00:19:12,952
But bringing this
plan to fruition

480
00:19:12,952 --> 00:19:14,687
could not have
happened alone.

481
00:19:15,021 --> 00:19:18,290
It took the work of many 
people across the NIH.

482
00:19:18,791 --> 00:19:21,193
I want to sincerely
thank the directors of

483
00:19:21,193 --> 00:19:24,830
every institute, center,
and office at NIH

484
00:19:24,830 --> 00:19:26,632
for their willingness
to participate

485
00:19:26,632 --> 00:19:28,000
in this plan's development.

486
00:19:28,801 --> 00:19:30,736
I also want to
thank the incredibly

487
00:19:30,736 --> 00:19:32,672
engaged members
of the Coordinating

488
00:19:32,672 --> 00:19:35,241
Committee for Autoimmune
Disease Research.

489
00:19:35,708 --> 00:19:38,411
This dedicated group
worked diligently

490
00:19:38,411 --> 00:19:41,347
over the past 18
months to make this plan

491
00:19:41,347 --> 00:19:43,983
a reality and their
passion and commitment

492
00:19:43,983 --> 00:19:47,019
to autoimmune disease
research is tangible.

493
00:19:47,420 --> 00:19:49,889
Finally, I want to
thank all people living

494
00:19:49,889 --> 00:19:52,191
with or affected by
autoimmune diseases

495
00:19:52,191 --> 00:19:54,360
whose commitment
and dedication to

496
00:19:54,360 --> 00:19:56,929
advancing autoimmune
disease research is

497
00:19:56,929 --> 00:19:59,732
woven into every
aspect of this plan.

498
00:20:00,332 --> 00:20:02,601
Thank you for letting
us hear your stories

499
00:20:02,601 --> 00:20:05,838
and thank you for supporting
the work of the Office.

500
00:20:06,272 --> 00:20:08,707
As we look to the
future for autoimmune

501
00:20:08,707 --> 00:20:11,410
disease research,
this plan will serve as

502
00:20:11,410 --> 00:20:14,046
a framework for
priority setting over the

503
00:20:14,046 --> 00:20:16,615
next five years,
ultimately improving the

504
00:20:16,615 --> 00:20:18,717
health of all
people living with

505
00:20:18,717 --> 00:20:20,953
and at risk of
autoimmune diseases.

506
00:20:22,721 --> 00:20:29,562
♪ (music playing) ♪