ILD Day

Since 1948, the Arthritis Foundation has led the fight to conquer arthritis, which now affects nearly 60 million adults and hundreds of thousands of children in the United States as well as their families and loved ones. The Arthritis Foundation is boldly pursuing a cure for America's #1 cause of disability while championing the fight to conquer arthritis with life-changing science, resources, advocacy and community connections.

Visit arthritis.org.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis in which joints are inflamed resulting in swelling, pain and possible destruction of joints. It is also considered an autoimmune disease and attacks connective tissues in the patient’s body, and can attack other organs, including the lungs. ILD is a frequent extraarticular manifestation of RA.

• Although RA is more common in women, rheumatoid lung disease occurs more frequently in men who have long-standing rheumatoid disease and a history of smoking.
• The clinical features and course of pulmonary fibrosis in RA can be similar to those of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
• Scarring within the lungs is one of the most common lung problems linked to rheumatoid arthritis. Scarring related to long-term inflammation (interstitial lung disease) may cause shortness of breath, a chronic dry cough, fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite.

The mission of the Myositis Clinical Trial Consortium is to:

• Facilitate clinical trial planning, including study feasibility and site selection.
• Offer junior investigators/centers comprehensive training in study protocol, disease classification and assessment, and outcome measures to establish the readiness for further myositis clinical trials and research.
• Develop a multi-center prospective observational myositis registry with data collection at individual centers for future myositis clinical trials and related research.
• Provide preliminary analysis, feasibility assessments, collaboration and grant support for participating investigators.
• Establish collaborative clinical trials and related studies among various participating centers, such as to develop and validate novel classification criteria and outcome measures for future myositis clinical trials.
• Generate interdisciplinary discussion and consensus on standards for myositis clinical trial design, protocols, guidelines, ethics, and outcome measures.

Visit myositisclinicaltrialsconsortium.org.

Myositis refers to inflammation of the muscles. Infection, injury, and autoimmune diseases can all cause myositis. Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, such as polymyositis and dermatomyositis, are autoimmune in nature. Polymyositis (PM) causes muscle weakness, usually in the muscles closest to the trunk of your body. Dermatomyositis (DM) causes muscle weakness, plus skin problems such as rash.

• Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common complication of polymyositis and dermatomyositis.
• The frequency of ILD in PM–DM has been reported to range between 20 and 78%.

Additional information

• Event - Sept. 21, World Myositis Day

The National Scleroderma Foundation's mission is to advance medical research, promote disease awareness, and provide support and education to people with scleroderma, their families and support networks. The Foundation's vision is to be a relentless force in finding a cure and improving the lives of people affected by scleroderma.

Visit scleroderma.org. 

Scleroderma is a rare disease that hardens and tightens the skin and connective tissues. It affects women often more than men and most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. There are two main categories of scleroderma: localized and systemic. Localized scleroderma typically affects only the skin, but in rare cases may extend to the underlying muscle. Systemic scleroderma (sometimes called systemic sclerosis or SSc) is an autoimmune disease that can involve many body systems: the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, kidneys, or other major organs.

Systemic scleroderma may result in lung diseases such pulmonary arterial hypertension or interstitial lung disease.

Lung involvement is very common in patients with systemic scleroderma. The key elements of systemic scleroderma associated lung disease involve:

• Inflammation (potentially treatable)
• Lung scarring (not reversible)
• Blood vessel injury

Nori's Fight is dedicated to raising awareness about the rare autoimmune disease that took Nori from us too soon. The mission of Nori's Fight is to promote early detection and advancements in treatments for Anti-MDA5 Dermatomyositis and Interstitial Lung Disease. With your support, Nori's Fight aims to raise awareness and fund vital research efforts.

Visit norisfight.org.

PF Warriors is an international support network that provides support, education, inspiration, and hope to individuals and families affected by pulmonary fibrosis. The PF Warriors' mission is to help people facing a life-altering progressive lung condition to live their best possible lives after diagnosis.

Visit pfwarriors.com.

The word "pulmonary" means lung and the word "fibrosis" means scar tissue— similar to scars that form on the skin from an old injury or surgery. Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a process that causes lung scarring, in which fibrotic tissue blocks the movement of oxygen from inside the tiny air sacs in the lungs into the bloodstream. 

Pulmonary fibrosis isn't just one disease. It is a family of more than 200 different lung diseases that all look very much alike. The PF family of lung diseases is part of an even larger group of diseases called interstitial lung diseases (also known as ILD), which includes all of the diseases that have inflammation and/or lung scarring.

Additional information

• Resource – PF Warriors Patient Guide

• Event – Sept. 13, When the Lungs React: Understanding Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is to accelerate the development of new treatments and ultimately a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Until this goal is achieved, the PFF is committed to advancing improved care of patients with PF and providing unequaled support and education resources for patients, caregivers, family members, and health care providers.

Visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

The word "pulmonary" means lung and the word "fibrosis" means scar tissue— similar to scars that form on the skin from an old injury or surgery. Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a process that causes lung scarring, in which fibrotic tissue blocks the movement of oxygen from inside the tiny air sacs in the lungs into the bloodstream. 

Pulmonary fibrosis isn't just one disease. It is a family of more than 200 different lung diseases that all look very much alike. The PF family of lung diseases is part of an even larger group of diseases called interstitial lung diseases (also known as ILD), which includes all of the diseases that have inflammation and/or lung scarring.

Additional information

• Resource – PF Basics: Info for Newly Diagnosed Patients

• Event – Nov. 13-15, PFF Summit 2025

When scleroderma patient Sharon Monsky founded the Scleroderma Research Foundation, she knew that a cure would not come in her lifetime. Still, she set out to develop a foundation that would deliver life-changing results by bringing the brightest minds in science together, and harnessing the power of technology to accelerate the progress of scleroderma research. Since the Scleroderma Research Foundation's inception in 1987, the organization has grown to be the largest nonprofit investor in scleroderma research in the United States.

Visit srfcure.org.

Scleroderma is a rare disease that hardens and tightens the skin and connective tissues. It affects women often more than men and most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. There are two main categories of scleroderma: localized and systemic. Localized scleroderma typically affects only the skin, but in rare cases may extend to the underlying muscle. Systemic scleroderma (sometimes called systemic sclerosis or SSc) is an autoimmune disease that can involve many body systems: the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, kidneys, or other major organs.

Systemic scleroderma may result in lung diseases such pulmonary arterial hypertension or interstitial lung disease.

Lung involvement is very common in patients with systemic scleroderma. The key elements of systemic scleroderma associated lung disease involve:

• Inflammation (potentially treatable)
• Lung scarring (not reversible)
• Blood vessel injury

Additional information

• Resource – Scleroderma & ILD Webinar Playlist

• Event – Sept. 16, Scleroderma and the Lungs: A Spotlight on ILD

Additional information

• Resource - Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) in Sjögren’s

The mission of Team Telomere is to empower individuals worldwide impacted by Telomere Biology Disorders with information and support services, to advance improved diagnosis through education and advocacy, and to accelerate the medical and scientific community’s research in finding causes, effective treatments, and a path towards a cure. 

The vision of Team Telomere is to see a world where every person impacted by Telomere Biology Disorders – including the affected individuals, caregivers, researchers, and clinicians – has accessible care, community, and resources, with the goal of positively changing the course of this disease, driving toward improved treatments and ultimately one day a cure.

Visit teamtelomere.org.

Telomere mutations cause interstitial lung disease by making the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes wear down too quickly. This leads to early aging and loss of lung cells, especially the alveolar cells that normally repair the air sacs. When these cells can’t regenerate properly, the lungs heal with scarring instead, causing stiffness and poor oxygen exchange. As a result, people with telomere-related mutations often develop pulmonary fibrosis and may also have issues in other organs like the bone marrow or liver.

The Wescoe Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis provides support, education, advocacy, and resources for patients living with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) as well as their care partners and families, in order to sustain the highest possible quality of life.

Visit wescoe.org.

The word "pulmonary" means lung and the word "fibrosis" means scar tissue— similar to scars that form on the skin from an old injury or surgery. Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a process that causes lung scarring, in which fibrotic tissue blocks the movement of oxygen from inside the tiny air sacs in the lungs into the bloodstream. 

Pulmonary fibrosis isn't just one disease. It is a family of more than 200 different lung diseases that all look very much alike. The PF family of lung diseases is part of an even larger group of diseases called interstitial lung diseases (also known as ILD), which includes all of the diseases that have inflammation and/or lung scarring.

• Resource - Wescoe Foundation PF Podcast – Veterans & ILD with Dr. Mary Porteous