Table 1.

CRN executive summary and “elevator pitch.”

The GRAPPA-CRN Strategic Plan
Executive summary Significant advances in the treatment of psoriasis and PsA have greatly improved the QOL and function of patients with these disorders, but several major challenges remain to be addressed. A common feature underlying many of these challenges is the marked heterogeneity in presentation and clinical course, along with a limited understanding of disease-related pathways and key cellular and molecular mechanisms that initiate and perpetuate skin and musculoskeletal inflammation. GRAPPA comprises an international group of rheumatologists, dermatologists, methodologists, and patient research partners who have the ability and desire to form a large, cohesive CRN to address key unanswered questions that pertain to psoriatic disease, including: (1) how to align clinicians, patients, and investigators to optimize outcomes in psoriatic disease; (2) how to apply novel methods to psoriatic disease that take into account disease heterogeneity; and (3) how to develop precision medicine strategies to identify which patients will develop the disease, which are likely to progress from PsC to PsA, and which are likely to respond (or not) to a specific therapy. The CRN’s vision and goals are outlined below, with a SWOT analysis and operational plan that includes financial projections. We anticipate that establishing this unique research network will provide an unparalleled opportunity to gain a more complete understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms that will translate into improved therapies for patients with PsC and PsA. Elevator pitch PsA is a prevalent heterogeneous disease that can lead to impaired function and decreased QOL. New therapies have greatly reduced inflammation and improved outcomes in PsA. Despite these advances, fewer than 30% of patients with PsA achieve remission. Additionally, over 40% of patients do not respond (defined as a 20% improvement) based on phase III clinical trial results. Many of those who do meet primary response criteria still have much residual inflammation. Further, divergent treatment responses in different domains (e.g., skin vs peripheral joints) within the same individual patients are not uncommon and many patients do not have access to these expensive medications. A better understanding of disease-related pathways will facilitate new drug development and improve treatment response. An international CRN of centers with PsC and PsA cohorts will facilitate the collection of a broad variety of biologic samples, thereby catalyzing scientific discovery, new drug development, and the identification of key disease biomarkers.

The GRAPPA-CRN Strategic Plan

Executive summary
- Significant advances in the treatment of psoriasis and PsA have greatly improved the QOL and function of patients with these disorders, but several major challenges remain to be addressed. A common feature underlying many of these challenges is the marked heterogeneity in presentation and clinical course, along with a limited understanding of disease-related pathways and key cellular and molecular mechanisms that initiate and perpetuate skin and musculoskeletal inflammation. GRAPPA comprises an international group of rheumatologists, dermatologists, methodologists, and patient research partners who have the ability and desire to form a large, cohesive CRN to address key unanswered questions that pertain to psoriatic disease, including: (1) how to align clinicians, patients, and investigators to optimize outcomes in psoriatic disease; (2) how to apply novel methods to psoriatic disease that take into account disease heterogeneity; and (3) how to develop precision medicine strategies to identify which patients will develop the disease, which are likely to progress from PsC to PsA, and which are likely to respond (or not) to a specific therapy. The CRN’s vision and goals are outlined below, with a SWOT analysis and operational plan that includes financial projections. We anticipate that establishing this unique research network will provide an unparalleled opportunity to gain a more complete understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms that will translate into improved therapies for patients with PsC and PsA.
Elevator pitch
- PsA is a prevalent heterogeneous disease that can lead to impaired function and decreased QOL. New therapies have greatly reduced inflammation and improved outcomes in PsA.
- Despite these advances, fewer than 30% of patients with PsA achieve remission. Additionally, over 40% of patients do not respond (defined as a 20% improvement) based on phase III clinical trial results. Many of those who do meet primary response criteria still have much residual inflammation. Further, divergent treatment responses in different domains (e.g., skin vs peripheral joints) within the same individual patients are not uncommon and many patients do not have access to these expensive medications.
- A better understanding of disease-related pathways will facilitate new drug development and improve treatment response.
- An international CRN of centers with PsC and PsA cohorts will facilitate the collection of a broad variety of biologic samples, thereby catalyzing scientific discovery, new drug development, and the identification of key disease biomarkers.

GRAPPA: The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis; CRN: Collaborative Research Network; PsA: psoriatic arthritis; QOL: quality of life; PsC: cutaneous psoriasis; SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.