NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Autoimmune Disease Research
Autoimmune diseases can affect almost every organ in the body and can occur at any point across the lifespan. It is estimated that between 23.5 and 50 million Americans are living with autoimmune diseases, making them among the most common chronic conditions in the United States. While autoimmune diseases more commonly affect women, men often experience a more severe autoimmune disease course and face a higher risk of mortality. Despite their high prevalence and serious impact, many autoimmune diseases remain understudied, and treatment options are limited. To accelerate progress in autoimmune disease research (ADR), the U.S. Congress directed NIH to establish an Office of Autoimmune Disease Research in the Office of Research on Women’s Health (OADR-ORWH).
Watch a special introductory video and learn more about the future of NIH-funded autoimmune disease research:
A key initiative of OADR-ORWH, the inaugural NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Autoimmune Disease Research launched on July 21, 2025.
NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Autoimmune Disease Research 2026-2030 (PDF, 6MB)This plan was developed with invaluable input from the autoimmune disease community. Read the Summary of Responses to the Request for Information (NOT-OD-24-049) released in December 2023, which sought public input on advancing autoimmune disease research.
RFI Summary of Responses (PDF, 1.5MB)
NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Autoimmune Disease Research: Launch Video Slides (PDF, 9MB)
One-Page Overview of NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Autoimmune Disease Research (PDF, 677KB)
Autoimmune Diseases: Why Research Matters Infographic (PDF, 373KB)