Dear Grandparents,

The Cure JM Foundation has always treasured the special role that grandparents play in their families and Cure JM. We hope you enjoy this collection of news specifically for you, our grandparents. 

Best regards,



The Cure JM Grandparent Alliance

Connecting with Grandparents

For ongoing, updated Grandparent programs, support, and opportunities, please visit our dedicated Grandparent Alliance webpage by clicking here.

Giving Tuesday reminded us just how extraordinary our Cure JM grandparents are.



Thank you for your generosity and your dedication to children and families affected by JM. Because of you, research moves forward and families feel supported every step of the way.

📅 Thursday, January 22nd, 2025

🕖 3pm ET / 2pm CT / 1pm MT / 12 pm PT

Grandparent Connect group meets on the 4th Thursday of every month

The Cure JM Grandparent Connect group is a space for grandparents of children with juvenile myositis to learn, share, and connect. Meet other grandparents, exchange experiences, and discover ways to support families navigating the JM journey.

As we continue accelerating work on CAR-T therapy, JAK inhibitors, and other breakthrough opportunities, we are thrilled to announce five new grants that will help families in new ways.

Out of fifteen excellent proposals, Cure JM selected the following projects to fund that will advance JM research, improve care, and bring meaningful support to families across our community.

Here’s a look at what’s coming and what it means for your family:

1. The MyoPal Study — Dr. Brian Feldman (SickKids, Toronto)

Testing an at-home strength app that could help families spot changes earlier, ease long clinic visits, improve consistency, and expand access to care.

2. Understanding the NXP2 Subtype — Dr. Jessica Neely (UCSF)

Exploring whether T-cells play a role in NXP2-positive JM, with the goal of improving treatments and giving families clearer answers.

3. Investigating Calcinosis Pathways — Drs. Jessica Turnier & Ray Zuo (University of Michigan)

Studying how immune factors interact to trigger inflammation and calcinosis, with the hope of guiding more effective treatments.

4. Developing a JM Parent Support Program — Drs. Tamar Rubinstein & Amanda Zayde (Montefiore Medical Center)

This project creates the first JM-specific mental health program for parents, aiming to reduce stress and burnout, strengthen family resilience, and offer a scalable model that JM centers nationwide can adopt.

5. Genomic Signatures Fellowship — Dr. Shannon O’Connor (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital)

This fellowship supports a future JM specialist as she studies subtypes of JM known as autoantibodies. Dr. O’Connor will study how autoantibodies form and shape disease, with the goal of improving treatment decisions and predicting flares more accurately.

These projects move us forward in research, care, and family support, and they are possible only because of the strength and generosity of JM families. Your commitment fuels every step toward a more hopeful tomorrow.

Together, we are building a healthier future for our children. Click here to read more about each project.

With five new grants now underway, Cure JM is helping move critical research forward for children and families affected by JM. There is an opportunity right now to help sustain and accelerate this momentum.

Cure JM Co-Founders Tom and Shari Hume have generously stepped forward with a holiday challenge match to help build on recent advances. Through December 31, every gift made to Cure JM will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $50,000, allowing research and family support efforts to move ahead more quickly.

This matching opportunity supports research that continues to move the field forward, bringing us closer to better treatments and the long-term goal of cures for children with JM.

Watch Video

For grandparents of children living with juvenile myositis, hope for the future matters deeply. In this December Town Hall update, Executive Director Jim Minow takes time to walk families through where JM research stands today and what lies ahead.

This update provides context around recent advances and explains why continued research matters for the health and future of children living with JM.

Those who would like a more in-depth update can watch the full December Town Hall on our website, including insights from Dr. Brian Feldman.

As a grandparent, your love and support are the heart of your family—and they can also be a beacon of hope for children affected by juvenile myositis. At Cure JM Foundation, we celebrate the vital role grandparents play in shaping a brighter future.

Many of our most dedicated supporters are grandparents like you, committed to making a lasting impact on children’s lives. There are meaningful ways you can help:

• Include a bequest in your will or trust to leave a legacy that lasts for generations.
• Direct your IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) if you’re 73 or older, making a tax-efficient gift.
• Make a gift today to fund critical research and provide support for families navigating JM.

Every gift, in every form, helps bring hope and progress to children and families living with JM. Explore the possibilities for leaving a lasting impact with Cure JM Foundation.

Click below to learn how you can make a difference today.

🔹 Explore Resources: Find everything from support groups to medical info.

🔹 Discover Research: See the breakthroughs your support makes possible.

🔹 Get Involved: Connect with the Cure JM community and families.

🔹 Make a Gift: Donate today to accelerate JM research and support families.