OUR RESEARCH IS ABOUT MORE THAN YOUR DISEASE.
OUR RESEARCH IS ABOUT YOU.
WE CHAMPION YOUR VOICE as the expert in how rheumatic disease impacts your life. We believe that your personal perspective is invaluable to our research. With your help, we continue to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes—all driven by our ultimate goal: prevention.
Every six months, more than 10,000 people contribute to this important research by volunteering approximately an hour of their time to answer questions about their condition and how it affects their lives.
Questionnaires can be completed online, over the phone, or by mail.
Already a participant? Log in to access your account!
Why Should I Participate?
By participating in FORWARD you’ll be making an invaluable contribution to the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Research depends on patients like you sharing their experiences and providing feedback.
For those with debilitating diseases like arthritis it can be difficult to volunteer in a traditional setting. FORWARD research provides that opportunity to volunteer in a way that is accessible, quick, and cost free.
FORWARD’s data is patient-reported—meaning that it comes directly from you, rather than a doctor or clinical staff. This gives researchers a perspective that short, small clinical trials cannot provide. Our long-term study offers a much broader view of treatment and the way that it affects patient’s lives.
Patients who enroll not only are the foundation of the data base, but also have a voice in the research too – from scientific advisory boards, to suggestions on research questions and projects.
In the past 20 years, FORWARD participants have contributed to 277 conditions studied, 43 years of patient focused research, and at least 1000 peer reviewed articles and publications.
You will have full access to your FORWARD databank results online after completing each questionnaire and will receive a free rheumatic disease newsletter twice a year.
How to Participate
- Ready to get started? It’s free to join! Click on the Enroll Now button below. This will take you to a consent form.
- After consenting, you’ll begin the enrollment forms which will take you through contact information, and then more detailed questions about your condition. (Estimated 20 min)
- When finished, check your email for enrollment confirmation.
- You are now ready to join in the on-going research. We will contact you every 6 months in January and July with an email link to the online Webquest.
