Critical Momentum: Protecting the Progress of Psoriatic Research
Welcome from Hosts, Carol Ostrow and Michael Graff
Welcome,
It was wonderful seeing many of you in New York, and for those who couldn’t attend, thank you for taking the time to visit our webpage and learn more about NPF’s work.
Last year, we launched this event as something new—an opportunity to bring together the brightest minds in psoriatic disease research and care with National Psoriasis Foundation leaders and donors. Our goal was not only to celebrate what we’ve accomplished together, but also to look ahead and shape the strategies needed to achieve the mission we all share: a cure for psoriatic disease and a life free from its burdens, with equitable access to care for all.
Now, in our second year, we are building on the momentum of that first gathering. These are unique times for our community. Scientific breakthroughs, new treatment pathways, and a deeper understanding of psoriatic disease are converging in ways that position us closer than ever to transformative change. Together, we have an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate progress.
For some of you, NPF has been a partner for many years; for others, this may be a newer connection. In either case, we look forward to hearing your stories and learning more about what inspires your involvement.
For my family, our support has spanned more than two decades, driven by personal ties to this disease that has touched our children and other loved ones. Once you have witnessed the effects of this systemic condition, it’s impossible not to want to step forward and drive change.
And that is what we are doing at NPF – driving change.
Your leadership and partnership make NPF’s mission possible. We are deeply grateful for your commitment and excited to continue this partnership together.
Guest Speakers
Christopher Ritchlin, M.D., MPH
Dr. Christopher Ritchlin is an internationally recognized rheumatologist and Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York. Professor Ritchlin's basic science research efforts are directed towards understanding the mechanisms that underlie pathologic bone resorption and new bone formation in psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. His team also developed a new murine translational model of PsO and PsA and they demonstrated that the decline in secondary bile acids are key events in the transition to PsA.
Professor Ritchlin is the principal investigator on several clinical trials testing the efficacy of anti-TNF agents and other biologic molecules in the treatment of psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. He directs the NIAMS Accelerated Medicine Partnership Autoimmune Inflammatory Mediated (AMP AIM) Psoriatic Disease Team focused on -understanding key pathophysiology events that underlie psoriasis and PsA using advanced technologies such as single cell RNAseq and spatial transcriptomics.
Professor Ritchlin is the author or co-author of over 300 peer reviewed articles. A longtime National Psoriasis Foundation scientific partner and donor, Professor Ritchlin plays a vital role in driving the Foundation's research priorities and shaping the future of psoriatic disease treatment and care.
Leah Howard, J.D.
Leah M. Howard, J.D., is the President and CEO of the National Psoriasis Foundation. She has lived with psoriasis for 21 years and has more than two decades of experience working with national health and disability organizations, local governments, and leading health care and research institutions. Over the last decade, Howard has empowered people with psoriatic disease to share their challenges with policymakers at the state and federal level, as well as with regulators, and health agency management. This led to a number of improvements for the community including more than 40 new state laws improving access to treatment.
NPF Funding Drives Discovery Worldwide
The National Psoriasis Foundation is a global leader in driving psoriatic disease research. Our 2025 awards cycle was one of the most competitive to date, yet we are proudly funding a continuum of projects that open bold new paths toward a cure.
This year’s investments span four countries and multiple institutions, advancing discoveries in inflammation, disease progression, vascular health, neuroimmunology, and potential new treatment targets. Together, these projects represent the next chapter in psoriatic disease research.
NPF research has consistently delivered extraordinary return on investment—turning seed funding into breakthrough science, major federal grants, and real hope for patients worldwide.
“Our mission is to direct the future of research in psoriatic disease by supporting the researchers. Everything we do is under the goal of curing psoriatic disease. In challenging times for researchers, these awards sustain the new ideas that propel us closer to cures,” says Guy Eakin, Ph.D., Chief Scientific and Medical Officer for NPF.
NPF Research Partnerships
Accelerating Medicines Partnership® in Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases (AMP AIM)
In 2022, the National Psoriasis Foundation led the effort to successfully secure psoriatic disease research as part of the prestigious Accelerating Medicines Partnership® in Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases (AMP AIM) program—a landmark public-private collaboration led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) alongside industry and nonprofit partners. AMP AIM is creating a shared “blueprint” for understanding how immune-mediated diseases develop, progress, and respond to treatment.
Because of NPF’s leadership, psoriatic disease is now part of this effort—ensuring that the biology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is studied alongside other major autoimmune and immune-mediated conditions. This inclusion means new insights, more federal dollars, and access to cutting-edge resources for our community. It’s a powerful example of how your investment enables NPF to elevate psoriatic disease to the national stage, magnify impact, and drive us closer to breakthrough solutions and ultimately, a cure.
AMP-AIM psoriatic disease program collaborators, Dr. Jose Scher and Dr. Christopher Ritchlin at the 2025 Commit to Cure Gala.
Psoriasis Health Indicator Report
To address the need for a national public health goal to guide improvements in psoriatic disease care and management, NPF developed the Psoriasis Health Indicator Report with input from many leading researchers and clinicians in the field of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The report was made possible as part of a three-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that NPF received in 2021. In addition to data on prevalence, risk factors, and comorbidities, the report features segments on the public stigma and perception of psoriasis, the impact of the disease in the workplace or in community life, and the effects of psoriatic disease on a person’s quality of life.
“Psoriasis and PsA are issues of public health. About 3% of the people in the U.S. live with psoriasis and are therefore at an increased risk for PsA, heart disease, metabolic issues, and mental health challenges,” says Leah M. Howard, J.D., the President and CEO of NPF.
NPF recently received second-year funding for its chronic disease education grant from the CDC. This grant, titled "Increasing Awareness of Psoriasis as a Chronic Immune-Mediated Systemic Inflammatory Disease to Improve Patient Outcomes," substantially supports NPF's continuing work educating patients, the public health community, and health care providers.
Recent NPF News
See the latest updates from NPF across research, events, partnerships, advocacy, and more.
2026 Commit to Cure Gala in Salt Lake City
NPF is thrilled to honor four incredible individuals at the 2026 event who have all made tremendous contributions to advancing the mission of curing psoriatic disease and improving the lives of those affected. Reserve your seat to join us and celebrate the work and accomplishments of Drs. Kristina Callis Duffin, Clive M. Liu, Catherine J. Bakewell, and Jessica Walsh.
NPF Leadership
Medical Board
The Medical Board provides clinical direction, treatment guidance, and provider education oversight to the organization and its Executive leaders.
Scientific Advisory Committee
The Scientific Advisory Committee is responsible for identifying and reaching consensus upon the most promising active areas of research in the fields of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and related comorbidities.
Board of Directors
A volunteer Board of Directors steers the strategic direction of the National Psoriasis Foundation.
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