The path may not be smooth, and the climb may be steep, but, together, we can climb mountains. Please join me in the fight against IBM.

Kevin Dooley, MD
Chairman, Cure IBM

Support Inclusion Body Myositis Research

The Cure IBM Research Fund at TMA

The Cure IBM Research Fund at TMA is a dedicated inclusion body myositis research fund created to support promising IBM research and help lead to better treatments. Every dollar raised through the fund goes directly and exclusively to IBM research.

Established in 2026 by individuals living with IBM, this new fund is administered by The Myositis Association (TMA), with Cure IBM providing fundraising, outreach, and other support. Patients participate in shaping the strategic agenda, application process, and grant selection.

The Cure IBM Research Fund at TMA is moving from vision to action. Later this year, we will announce the fund’s first research grant recipients—two grants totalling over $200,000 will be awarded. We are putting donor support directly to work on promising studies that can deepen our understanding of inclusion body myositis and help lead to better treatments.

Cure IBM believes that more research is the most critical need for inclusion body myositis. Doctors and scientists now have the modern research tools needed to increase our understanding of IBM, but they need grant money to fund their work. The Cure IBM Research Fund at TMA is an innovative, promising initiative to fund the research that is urgently needed, research that may lead to effective treatments.

DONATE

A Gift of Any Size Matters

Every contribution, regardless of size, helps build momentum for IBM research.

A broad base of support from patients, families, friends, and others affected by IBM shows that our community is serious about advancing research. Whether you give $25, $100, $1,000, or more, your gift helps strengthen this dedicated fund.

Donor Circles

Some donors may be able to make larger, multi-year commitments. These commitments are especially valuable because they allow the fund to plan ahead and help build a stronger, more sustained research pipeline.

The Cure IBM Research Fund at TMA includes the following Donor Circles:

  • Impact Circle: $25,000 per year for four years
  • Leadership Circle: $15,000 per year for four years
  • Contributing Circle: $5,000 per year for four years

Donors at these levels will receive additional recognition and opportunities to learn about the research their support is helping make possible.

If you are interested in joining a Donor Circle or discussing a larger gift, please contact Martha Arnold:

Making a Donation

You can donate securely online to the Cure IBM Research Fund at TMA.

DONATE
DONATE

Donations may be made by credit card or PayPal.

Checks may be mailed to:

The Myositis Association
6950 Columbia Gateway Dr., Suite 370
Columbia, MD 21046

Please be sure to indicate that your gift is for the Cure IBM Research Fund at TMA.

If you would like information about donating stock, making a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA, or joining a Donor Circle, please contact Paula Eichenbrenner, Executive Director of The Myositis Association:

Founding Circle

A small group of donors provided the initial support to launch the Cure IBM Research Fund at TMA: Martha Arnold, Kevin Dooley, Pam and Jeff Autrey, David and Peg Mochel, and Rob and Cindy Hardin.

Their early commitment helped create a foundation that the wider IBM community can now build on. We are deeply grateful for their leadership and look forward to welcoming additional supporters who will help expand the fund’s impact over time.

The Myositis Association

Cure IBM has a long history of working with The Myositis Association, a valuable myositis non-profit partner. TMA has consistently supported myositis research and has significant experience administering research grants. Since 2002, TMA has awarded 29 research grants providing more than $3.6 million for IBM projects.

By working with TMA, the Cure IBM Research Fund at TMA benefits from established nonprofit oversight and grant administration while remaining focused specifically on IBM research. Cure IBM is proud to partner with TMA in working to make the Cure IBM Research Fund at TMA a success.

Cure IBM’s History of Supporting Research

From its beginning, Cure IBM has encouraged and supported research that could improve the lives of people with IBM.

Dedicated Research Funds at Leading Universities

Cure IBM founded IBM research funds in 2017 at two major universities with strong myositis programs:

  • The IBM Research Fund at Johns Hopkins University, which funded research by Tom Lloyd, MD. Dr. Lloyd is now Chair of the Department of Neurology at Baylor College of Medicine.
  • The Cure IBM Research Fund at Washington University in St. Louis, which has funded research by Conrad “Chris” Weihl, MD and is now known as the Weihl IBM Research Fund.

Both of these funds have helped finance important IBM research projects.

Million Dollar Bike Ride

Cure IBM cycling teams participated in the 2019 and 2020 Million Dollar Bike Ride, a rare disease fundraising event organized by the University of Pennsylvania. The teams raised $170,000 and funded two IBM research grants:

  • Steven A. Greenberg, MD, at Harvard University, developed monoclonal antibodies with high affinity for an immune molecule active in IBM.
  • Tom Lloyd, MD, now at Baylor College of Medicine, studied the efficacy of rapamycin/sirolimus and sodium phenylbutyrate in a xenograft model of IBM while at Johns Hokins.

Supporting TMA Research Efforts

Since its inception, Cure IBM has encouraged and facilitated donations to support TMA research grants.

Together, We Can Push IBM Research Forward

IBM is a difficult disease, and progress has been too slow. But the IBM community can help change that.

Cure IBM has supported IBM research from its beginning. The Cure IBM Research Fund at TMA continues that commitment and gives patients, families, friends, and donors a focused and efficient way to help advance the research our disease urgently needs.

The path may not be smooth, and the climb may be steep, but together, we can climb mountains.

Please join us in the fight against IBM.

by Kevin Dooley, MD
Revised September 22, 2026