Cure JM Virtual Summit on JIIM Research & Care – June 2026

june summit

Cure JM’s June Virtual Summit on JIIM Research & Care convened an international panel of clinicians and researchers to cover the latest findings in JM clinical outcomes, risk factors, and early‑life influences, along with new research models and tools that are shaping the next generation of myositis discovery.

Session Agenda
3:00pm-3:10 | Introduction
Andrew Heaton, PhD
Introduction Andrew Heaton, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Cure JM Foundation

Session 1: Clinical Outcomes Updates

Chair Person: Brian Feldman, MD, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, CN (Chair, Cure JM Medical Advisory Board)

3:10-3:35 | Toward a Treat-to-Target Strategy in Juvenile Dermatomyositis: What Are the Suitable Targets and Optimal Timing of Their Achievement?

Jayne MacMahon, MD, Consultant Pediatric Rheumatologist; Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, England

3:35-4:00 | Prenatal and Early-Life Environmental Exposures in Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases including Juvenile Myositis

Takuma Ohnishi, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Saitama Hospital, Saitama, Japan

4:00-4:25 | Risk Factors for Calcinosis in JM

Adam Huber, MD, Division Head of Pediatric Rheumatology, Dalhousie University, CanadaSession 2: New Tools for JM Research


Chair Person: Andrew Mammen, MD, PhD (NIH, Johns Hopkins, Cure JM Medical Advisory Board member)

4:25-4:50 | A Human 3D Skeletal Muscle Model for Juvenile Dermatomyositis

Lauren Covert, MD, Assistant Professor, Duke University School of Medicine

4:50-5:15 | T-cell differentiation and T-reg/Th17 balance in a myosin-induced mouse model of experimental autoimmune myositis

Sara Sabbagh, DO, Assoc. Prof Medical College of Wisconsin

5:15-5:40 | Targeting immune and non-immune mechanisms in a mouse model of myositis

Melissa Morales, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University

Presentation Summaries:

Emotional Health Web

Emotional Health Recognized as Vital Component of JDM Care

Caring for a child with juvenile myositis (JM) goes beyond managing flares and medications—it means supporting their whole well-being, including mental and emotional health. Research shows that children with chronic illnesses like JM are at a significantly higher risk for anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. These challenges can affect not just day-to-day life, but also treatment outcomes and long-term health

June 2026 Town Hall

June 2026 Town Hall – CAR-T

On June 16, Cure JM’s Shannon Malloy sat down with Tania Gonzalez Rivera, VP of Medical Affairs, and Courtney Little, Senior Director and Clinical Scientist

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