On January 15, 2019, the Spondylitis Association of America will launch a dynamic new website for kids and teens impacted by juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSpA), a rheumatic disease that strikes before the age of 16 but may span throughout adulthood. The new website, Spondykids.org, will provide a wealth of educational information and resources for youth living with the disease and their families.

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend, SAA’s former Executive Director, Laurie M. Savage, M.S. FLE. Laurie passed away on Sunday, December 30, 2018,  surrounded by her loving family, after her three-year-long battle with cancer. She fought cancer like she did everything else - with optimism and fearlessness - and a determination to not allow it to interfere with her life and passions.

Since its founding more than 35 years ago, the Spondylitis Association of America (SAA) has been at the forefront of funding research for a cure for spondyloarthritis (SpA). Embracing its mission to be the leading national nonprofit in the fight for a cure and to advocate on behalf of all people impacted by the chronic illness, SAA continues to identify and support ground-breaking research projects through its SAA/Bruckel Early Career Investigator Award in AxSpA (ECI) and additional grants for exploratory research.

Better ways to measure spinal fusion are needed to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of medicines in slowing or stopping spinal fusion. This study hopes to answer the question of whether CT scanning of the spine can provide a reliable, valid, and sensitive measure of spinal fusion in ankylosing spondylitis.

A Netherlands’ clinical trial assessed the effectiveness of the TNF inhibitor golimumab in reducing the recurrence of Acute Anterior Uveitis (AAU), eye inflammation, in ankylosing spondylitis.