CDC Grant Fuels New Partnership to Combat Misunderstood PMR Disease

UPPER NYACK, NY – August 28, 2026 – A strategic new partnership, backed by significant federal funding, is set to confront one of the most common yet frequently misunderstood inflammatory diseases affecting older Americans. The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) and the Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers (RhAPP) organization have announced a collaboration designed to dismantle the barriers of confusion and isolation surrounding polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Fueled by a multi-year, $1.6 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this initiative aims to place high-quality, patient-friendly educational resources directly into the hands of both the people living with PMR and the frontline clinicians who guide their care. For the hundreds of thousands navigating this challenging condition, the partnership represents a crucial step toward empowerment, clearer communication, and better health outcomes.

The Invisible Burden of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica is far from a rare disease, yet it often hides in plain sight, its symptoms mistaken for the normal aches and pains of aging. It is the second most common inflammatory rheumatic disease after rheumatoid arthritis, affecting an estimated 450,000 to 800,000 people in the United States, primarily adults over 50. Studies show a prevalence of over 700 per 100,000 people in this age group, with women and individuals of Caucasian descent being disproportionately affected.

The clinical description of PMR—pain and stiffness in the shoulders, neck, and hips—belies the profound disability it causes. Patients describe a debilitating stiffness, especially in the morning, that can last for hours and make simple daily activities like getting out of bed, dressing, or climbing stairs nearly impossible. This physical struggle is often compounded by systemic symptoms like overwhelming fatigue, low-grade fever, and unexplained weight loss.

“PMR can be confusing and isolating, especially for patients who don't know where to turn for reliable information,” said Shilpa Venkatachalam, PhD, MPH, Chief Patient-Centered Research and Ethical Oversight Officer at GHLF. This sentiment is echoed in patient communities, where many report feeling dismissed or misunderstood before receiving a diagnosis. The journey is often fraught with frustration as symptoms are attributed to other causes, delaying effective treatment.

Furthermore, the diagnosis carries serious associated risks. Between 15% and 20% of people with PMR also develop Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), a related and dangerous inflammation of the blood vessels that can lead to blindness, stroke, or aortic aneurysm. The primary treatment for PMR, long-term use of corticosteroids, is a double-edged sword. While steroids can provide dramatic relief, they come with a host of distressing side effects, including weight gain, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and an increased risk of osteoporosis and diabetes, adding another layer of complexity for patients to manage.

A Strategic Alliance to Bridge the Knowledge Gap

The partnership between GHLF and RhAPP is engineered to directly address the information vacuum that leaves many PMR patients feeling vulnerable. GHLF, a nonprofit dedicated to improving life for people with chronic illness, has already developed robust educational platforms. These include LearnPMR, a resource for clinicians and public health professionals, and LivePMR, a platform tailored specifically for patients and their caregivers.

However, creating valuable resources is only half the battle. The critical challenge, which this partnership aims to solve, is effective dissemination. By joining forces with RhAPP, GHLF gains a direct channel to a vital group of healthcare professionals who are often the primary point of contact for patients with chronic diseases.

“Advanced practice providers are often the ones spending the most time with patients’ day to day, which makes them uniquely positioned to put that information into action,” Dr. Venkatachalam explained. “Partnering with RhAPP, lets us share resources, and build a direct line between trusted patient education and the clinicians so patients and caregivers are more confident managing PMR.”

The collaboration will involve a multi-pronged engagement strategy, including presenting at RhAPP conferences, outreach through newsletters, and facilitating educational discussions with RhAPP’s local chapters across the country. The goal is to embed GHLF’s patient-friendly materials into the daily workflow of rheumatology clinics, ensuring patients receive clear, reliable, and actionable information at the point of care.

The Rising Influence of Advanced Practice Providers

This initiative also casts a spotlight on the increasingly critical role of advanced practice providers (APPs)—a group that includes nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists—in the modern healthcare landscape. As the demand for specialized medical care grows, APPs have become indispensable members of the rheumatology care team, handling everything from diagnosis and treatment management to patient education and ongoing support.

RhAPP President Amanda Mixon, PA-C, emphasized this integral role, stating, “At RhAPP, we believe that exceptional rheumatology care extends beyond making the right diagnosis or prescribing the right treatment, it also means ensuring patients have the knowledge and confidence to actively participate in their care.”

RhAPP’s mission is to empower its members through education and professional development, and this partnership aligns perfectly with that goal. By equipping APPs with vetted, high-quality PMR resources, the initiative empowers them to be more effective educators. RhAPP's extensive network, cultivated through its annual national conference, regional meetings, and digital learning hubs, provides the ideal infrastructure to scale this educational effort nationwide. This focus on APPs reflects a broader trend in chronic disease management, recognizing that sustained patient engagement and education, often led by APPs, are key drivers of improved health outcomes.

A New Model for Public Health Investment

Underpinning this entire initiative is the CDC's $1.6 million, four-year grant (CDC-RFA-DP23-0067), titled “Building Capacity for Polymyalgia Rheumatica Education and Awareness.” This funding represents more than just financial support; it signifies a strategic public health investment in a historically under-resourced area. The grant’s objectives are ambitious and foundational: to establish baseline data on PMR, evaluate and improve awareness among both professionals and the public, and synthesize knowledge to create effective educational tools.

This CDC-funded program serves as a powerful model for how to tackle other chronic diseases that lack widespread public recognition. By investing in a partnership that leverages an established patient advocacy group’s content expertise and a professional organization’s clinical reach, the CDC is fostering a sustainable ecosystem for disease education. This targeted approach promises a high return on investment, not in dollars, but in improved quality of life, better-managed care, and a more empowered patient population.

By strengthening the science base for prevention and promoting targeted education, this program provides a potential blueprint for future public health initiatives. For the hundreds of thousands of Americans grappling with the daily realities of polymyalgia rheumatica, this collaboration offers a tangible source of hope and a clear path toward taking control of their health.