National Psoriasis Foundation

The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is the world’s largest nonprofit organization serving people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. NPF provides information and services to help people take control of their condition, while supporting research to find a cure. In addition to serving more than 3 million people annually through patient and professional health education and advocacy initiatives, the Psoriasis Foundation has funded more than $12 million in psoriatic disease research grants and fellowships.^[1]

About the organization

The National Psoriasis Foundation focuses on improving the health of people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Through the organization's work to increase research, improve access to care, and expand knowledge of psoriatic disease, NPF aims to:

• Reduce or eliminate disease symptoms because patients are on the right treatments
• Lower an individual’s risk of developing illnesses related to psoriatic disease by promoting good disease management and healthy behaviors
• Ease the negative impact psoriatic disease has on the personal life, career and finances of those affected by making psoriatic disease more widely understood

Strategic Plan

The National Psoriasis Foundation launched an aggressive five-year strategic plan, ending June 30, 2019, to:

• Accelerate psoriatic disease research by investing at least 30 percent of its budget on scientific grants and fellowships; doubling the number of NIH-funded scientists studying psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; gathering a group of 1,000 people with psoriatic disease to collaborate on research; and evaluating the progress of psoriatic disease research toward the goal of a cure.
• Improve the health of people with psoriatic disease by doubling the number of people who are receiving appropriate treatment; cutting in half the number of people who report that psoriatic disease is a problem in everyday life; and doubling the number of health care providers effectively managing patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
• Conduct the largest and most comprehensive realignment and expansion of its psoriatic arthritis program — including reducing the time of diagnosis from four years to one — since NPF began serving this patient population.^[2]

Research

The National Psoriasis Foundation is dedicated to increasing the number of dollars, scientists and quality research projects devoted to psoriatic disease to find better treatments and a cure.

Each year, the National Psoriasis Foundation awards Discovery Grants and Translational Grants to support the start-up of new and innovative studies.

NPF Discovery Grants are one-year awards up to $75,000 that fund researchers to explore preliminary ideas and conduct proof-of-concept experiments. The goal is to stimulate the development of new research programs in the field of psoriatic disease that are capable of competing for long-term funding from the National Institutes of Health or other agencies in the future. Funded research areas include, but are not limited to, genetics, cell biology, immunology and epidemiology/health services.^[3]

NPF Translational Grants are two-year awards up to $200,000 total that are focused on moving scientific discoveries generated during laboratory or clinical research into projects that clearly benefit patients. In 2015, the National Psoriasis Foundation and the Arthritis National Research Foundation collaborated for a special Psoriatic Arthritis Research Grant.^[4]

To address the shortage of clinicians with in-depth knowledge of psoriatic disease, the National Psoriasis Foundation awards annual Medical Dermatology Fellowships. The fellowships, one-year awards up to $50,000, aim to increase the number of scientists focused on studying and treating psoriatic disease by encouraging young scientists to become physician researchers and dedicate their careers to psoriatic disease.^[5]

The National Psoriasis Victor Henschel BioBank is a collection of biological samples and clinical information used by qualified scientists to advance the field of psoriasis genetics. It is one of the largest collections of psoriasis DNA samples in the United States.^[6]

As the catalyst for psoriatic disease research, NPF is dedicated to promoting patient involvement in research studies and clinical trials. NPF offers research and clinical trial referral services that provide targeted outreach to people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.^[7]

Advocacy

The National Psoriasis Foundation focuses on changing policy to increase the federal government's attention on psoriatic disease, and to ensure that people get access to the treatments and medical specialists they need to best manage their condition.

Through the collective efforts of tens of thousands of advocates nationwide, NPF works to:

• Make insurance fair and affordable and improve coverage for people with psoriatic disease
• Set public health policy for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis through the findings from data collection at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Improve the safety and affordability of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treatments
• Increase federal funding for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis research in order to find better treatments and a cure.^[8]

Education

The National Psoriasis Foundation provides people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and their health care providers the latest information, education and critical support services so they can best manage their condition and improve overall health and well-being.

Free health webcasts from leading psoriatic disease experts arm people with information to reduce pain, inflammation and itching; clear skin; loosen joints; better understand future treatment options; and decrease their risk for of related conditions associated with psoriatic disease like heart disease and diabetes.^[9]

More than Skin Deep is a series of live patient-focused events held nationwide. This educational program provides people the latest information from leading experts to best manage their condition.^[10]

The NPF offers people who are newly diagnosed with support from trained peer mentors with its Psoriasis One to One mentor program. Additionally, the organization has a health educator on staff who is available to answer questions about psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, treatment options and related topics.

The NPF also offers professional education for health care providers with CME events and other programs.^[11]

Get Involved

Founded and headquartered in Portland, Ore., the Psoriasis Foundation opened its second office in Alexandria, Va., in 2013. As of 2015, the organization has 10 Community Divisions in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Florida South, Florida West, Los Angeles, New York City, Northern California, Portland, Ore., San Diego and Washington, D.C. These community divisions, led by a National Psoriasis Foundation community development manager and a group of dedicated volunteers, focus on fundraising, patient and health care provider outreach, grassroots advocacy and local education.^[12]

Team NPF is a group of everyday people with or without psoriatic disease who are walking, running, cycling and DIY-ing for a psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis cure. Team NPF Walks are held in communities around the country. In August 2015, the National Psoriasis Foundation will host its inaugural Team NPF Cycle event.^[13]

Funding

The National Psoriasis Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. In 2012, the organization received the coveted four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.^[14] The Psoriasis Foundation receives funding and support from individuals affected by psoriatic disease and their families, friends and medical providers. Corporations and foundations also fund the education, advocacy and research programs that help people with psoriatic disease better manage their condition and improve their overall health.

References

External links

• Official website
• Team NPF