As the holiday season draws to a close, we reflect on the immense progress and collective achievements made throughout 2024. The RP Foundation extends our heartfelt appreciation to our incredible donors, motorsports partners, clinical researchers, and patients with RP. Your steadfast support, compassion, and collaboration have been vital in driving forward our mission to support RP-focused initiatives in the three key pillars of awareness, education, and research.
Thanks to your dedication, we’ve made remarkable strides in advancing research, raising awareness, and enhancing education surrounding RP and related autoimmune diseases. Below are some of the year’s most significant accomplishments.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are filled with excitement and optimism as we anticipate the next chapter in our mission. With a talented team in place, we are eager to continue making a difference in the lives of those affected by RP.
As the year ends, we ask for your continued support. Please consider making a year-end, tax-deductible donation today at give.polychondritis.org. Your gift will help us maintain momentum as we drive forward groundbreaking research and discoveries in RP and related autoimmune diseases.
Thank you again for believing in our cause and helping us fuel the next wave of research and progress. We wish you and your families a joyous, prosperous, and healthy New Year.
2024 Accomplishments in Research
Our guiding mantra, “Where there’s research, there’s hope,” rings true thanks to the generous support of our community. The RP Foundation continues to foster a diverse and collaborative research portfolio, working with research partners and clinicians to make significant strides for patients with RP and related autoimmune diseases. To date, we’ve invested over one million dollars to support 20 research partners and 30 focused projects, including the following key accomplishments in 2024:
- Penn Medicine Relapsing Polychondritis Program: as a founding stakeholder, the RP Foundation continues to invest in this pioneering RP Center that provides patients with access to specialized, multi-disciplinary teams of clinicians and fosters a greater understanding of RP among clinicians, scientists, and the broader community.
- Invested in the Redefining Autoimmune Diseases Across Rheumatology (RADAR) Project, utilizing the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium (VCRC) biospecimen repository to identify immune profiles and develop tailored therapies for RP. Allegheny Health Network / PURPOSE Biobank
- PURPOSE Biobank at Allegheny Health Network: invested to create a centralized, patient-directed, state-of-the-art biobank with accompanying clinical data to facilitate research and advance the understanding of RP and related autoimmune diseases.
- MD Anderson Cancer Center: invested to advance the search for genetic markers in patients with RP-related autoimmune and bone marrow diseases. The goal of this project is to identify new genetic drivers of autoimmune disease and hematologic disease.
2024 Accomplishments in Awareness
Through strategic awareness initiatives, the RP Foundation’s message is reaching a broader audience, and we are gaining significant recognition within the autoimmune community and beyond. Notable awareness efforts include:
- Race for RP: Through Race for RP, the RP Foundation’s motorsports awareness program, the RP Foundation partnered with eight internationally recognized motorsports teams and sports broadcast personalities to generate brand awareness and promote our purpose to the broader community.
- The RP Foundation and RP were highlighted during nationally televised racing events, with Race for RP decals displayed on numerous race cars in a variety of motorsports platforms.
- The RP Foundation also partnered with professional race car drivers and broadcast personalities to host unique motorsports-targeted fundraising events including a VIP Race Weekend during the Indianapolis 500 in May, the “Hinchtown Happy Hour” event on Carb night during the Indianapolis 500 festivities, and eRace for RP Simulated Racing events.
- Proceeds generated from these events benefited RP and related autoimmune disease research.
- Documentaries
- Ride of My Life (2015): Chronicled RP Foundation Founder Nancy Linn’s journey with RP, with the goal of raising awareness for RP and related autoimmune diseases.
- Race of Our Lives (2023): A continuation of our awareness efforts, this documentary received numerous local film festival awards and was featured in Southbay Magazine in April/May 2024.
2024 Accomplishments in Education
The RP Foundation is dedicated to educating the broader community and fostering connections between patients, researchers, and clinicians. In 2024, we hosted and participated in various events aimed at increasing understanding and awareness of RP and autoimmune diseases:
- Annual Rare Disease Day at NIH
- Conferences & Meetings
- Delivered an invited presentation titled, “The Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation: RP- Focused Research Investments and Penn Collaboration” at the Penn RP Program Patient Education Meeting in October.
- RP Podcasts & Focused Materials
We continued to expand our network and reach through RP-focused educational content and podcasts, helping to disseminate the latest research findings and patient resources.
We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our donors, partners, researchers, and the patients we serve. As we look forward to 2025, we are filled with hope and determination to continue advancing the fight against RP and related autoimmune diseases.
Thank you for your belief in our mission and for helping to drive meaningful change in the lives of those affected by RP.
Wishing you a joyful, prosperous, and healthy New Year!
