Juvenile Arthritis Research

Our vision

Juvenile Arthritis Research's vision is a world where no child has to suffer from arthritis. We are a parent-led charity making a difference to the lives of those affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis. 

What is Juvenile idiopathic arthritis?

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an autoimmune disorder where the body's natural defences (designed to stop infections) start to attack the joints in children and young people under the age of 16. This causes inflammation of the joints, leading to pain, discomfort and reduced mobility. Without prompt and effective treatment, this can lead to permanent disability.

Our core aims include research to find a cure for JIA, raising awareness that children and young people get arthritis and providing support to children with JIA and their families. 

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis affects around 1 in every 1,600 children under the age of 16.

What we do

Family support

Being told that your child has a long-term health condition can be daunting, and can leave you feeling isolated and alone. Children can feel frightened, and unsure of what is happening. They may not understand why they are experiencing symptoms that their peers don’t have. They may be worried about the medications they will have to take. 
But you are not alone. Juvenile Arthritis Research are here to support every family affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Our support services include:

• our Little Box Of Hope support packs
• regular family Zoom calls
• local events
• one-to-one support
• peer support network
• school Toolkits to enable schools to confidently support children with JIA
• mental health support hub
• and much more.

Improving earlier diagnosis through awareness

Our research has shown that awareness that children and young people get arthritis is low. Raising awareness changes lives - it reduces delays in diagnosis, improves access to care, and reduces stigma. Through community events, global initiatives, online activities, and developing resources for others to use in person and digitally, we work to raise awareness of JIA.

Research

We undertake research into JIA to try to understand the causes, the effects and the impacts of the condition and to work towards finding a cure. We also support other high-quality research into JIA, working with health professionals, researchers, universities, hospitals and other organisations across the world. Our work has been presented at conferences and published in academic journals.

We are experienced PPI partners (Patient and Public Involvement partners), and have worked on a number of national and international research projects to make sure the patient and parent voices are heard. 

The impact of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

This video, developed with EULAR, helps explain some of the impacts that living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis can have on a child and their family. Supporting Juvenile Arthritis Research can help us address those challenges.