Juvenile psoriatic arthritis (JPsA) causes both arthritis and psoriasis in children, and it’s notoriously hard to catch early. Dr. Anna Costello, a pediatric rheumatologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is studying whether musculoskeletal ultrasound, already used to help diagnose adults, can help doctors spot JPsA in kids sooner too. She’s driven by a simple belief: with an earlier diagnosis, kids with JPsA should get to live the life they want. “Our goal is that you go to college, you play sports, you do theater, you have kids one day if you want to,” she says. “Whatever you want to do, you should be able to do.” In the video above, she shares more about what drew her to this work and what she wants families navigating a diagnosis to know.
Dr. Costello is this year’s recipient of the Rheum for Kids: Pediatric Skin and Joint Grant, offered jointly by the Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA). The grant supports early-career researchers studying pediatric joint and skin disease, fields that sit at the intersection of rheumatology and dermatology, built around the idea that some of the best answers for kids emerge when both specialties work from the same table. “The support of organizations like this helps me get my feet under me, to develop the evidence we need to change clinical practice in ways I think are meaningful,” Dr. Costello says.
Now in its second year, the Rheum for Kids grant continues to reflect a shared commitment from ANRF and PeDRA: building a pipeline of researchers equipped to tackle the complex, cross-disciplinary diseases that affect children’s skin and joints alike. Dr. Costello’s award marks the first time ANRF has funded research specifically focused on juvenile psoriatic arthritis, extending that commitment into another promising corner of pediatric rheumatology.
Partnerships like this one are how possibility takes shape in pediatric medicine. As Dr. Costello puts it: “It’s particularly meaningful to work with a group that cares about patient outreach and the patient community, and that’s dedicated to getting the word out about our conditions and diseases in pediatric rheumatology.” Every early-career researcher this grant supports brings faster diagnoses, better treatment, and a fuller life within reach for kids living with these diseases.
