Case Statement
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The Thurston Arthritis Research Center was established at the University of North Carolina's School of Medicine in 1981. Our mission is: to investigate the causes, consequences and treatments of arthritis and autoimmune diseases and to reduce their impacts on patients, their families and society.
In 1994, thanks to a generous lead donation from Doc J. Thurston Jr., a free standing multi-purpose research facility was built and named in his honor. The Thurston/Bowles Building is the first building on UNC campus to be funded entirely by private philanthropy. Today, Thurston has more than 70 researchers and physicians from 17 different departments in the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Pharmacy and Dentistry who collaborate to achieve the center's mission.
Thurston has proudly served the people of North Carolina with a long tradition of excellence. Thurston is designated as a Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center (MCRC) by the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS, a division of the National Institutes of Health). Thurston is designated as a Center of Excellence in Clinical Immunology by the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS ). Thurston faculty members are major contributors to the Top 10 Arthritis Advances by the Arthritis Foundation, have been ranked in the Top 25 nationally for clinical care in rheumatology in U.S. News and World Report's Best Hospitals survey and are cited in the 2008 Best Doctor's in America database.
The term "arthritis" actually refers to more than 100 different conditions that affect bones, joints and other internal systems. Many of these come under the category of rheumatic disease while others are labeled immunologic or autoimmune disorders. The symptoms of these diseases usually include; stiffness, swelling and joint pain, often in the hands, hips or knees, but can also become more systemic, expressing fatigue, muscle pain, miscarriage and vision and weight loss.
Arthritis is the #1 cause of disability in the United States. And it is one of the fastest growing healthcare issues in the nation. From 1990 to 2002, the number of Americans with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms increased 85%. Nearly 46 million Americans, one in every 5 adults, are affected by some form of arthritis, including more than 2 million North Carolinians. It is estimated that by the year 2030, 25 percent of the population will be affected by some form of arthritis.
It is easy to imagine how costly arthritis is to individual families and to our communities. An estimated 45 million lost workdays are attributed to arthritis each year. Add to this number 425 million days of lost activity, 39 million physician visits, and 750,000 hospitalizations, and arthritis' national economic impact quickly rises to an estimated $128 billion annually.
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The center's primary focus is to find out how these diseases work. Only by understanding the causes of arthritis can we determine the best approach for treatment, management, and ultimately, prevention. This work is facilitated through the close interaction between the research and clinical staff, allowing us to translate research findings almost immediately into patient care.
With research that focuses on these biological mechanisms as well as the psychological and social impacts of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, juvenile arthritis and lupus, the center coordinates a unique array of research projects, sharing data and facilities among different research projects in order to accelerate the advancement of scientific knowledge and new treatments for these diseases.
For 25 years, Thurston has served as the arthritis center for the people of North Carolina. Public outreach initiatives include: Partnering with The Arthritis Foundation and the CDC to develop The National Arthritis Action Plan and The North Carolina Arthritis Program; serving as an information resource for several smaller arthritis programs around the state; bringing evidence-based programming to North Carolina and; participating in the development and evaluation of new therapies to treat arthritis and autoimmune diseases. Through our Community Outreach and Outcomes-Based Research programs and the North Carolina Family Practice Network, faculty members have established satellite clinics in rural and economically disadvantaged communities to update local physicians and other health care providers on the latest scientific knowledge and treatments, as well as educating the public on disease self-management.
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While we cannot immediately erase the $128 billion that arthritis costs our nation each year, research at Thurston holds promise for the future. Diseases that are diagnosed and treated early and then managed effectively will certainly lower the cost. But more importantly, accurate diagnoses and early treatment will help bring much needed relief to our friends, families and neighbors.
Gifts of all amounts are greatly appreciated and provide critical funding for our efforts to advance science. Donors who support the center with an annual gift of $2,000 or more are invited to join the 1793 Society, which recognizes leadership giving to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Annual gifts of $1,000 or more are invited to join to the Thurston Club and are recognized for their generous dedication to our mission of helping people.
We invite you to learn more about giving opportunities at Thurston and just how important your gift is to this important area of healthcare.
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For more information, please visit our website at http://tarc.med.unc.edu or contact Randy Mounce, Director of Development, at 919-966-9301.