The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will convene an ad hoc committee to conduct a congressionally mandated study of NIH research on autoimmune diseases. The study will:

• Provide a general overview (with particular focus on NIH research efforts) of epidemiologic trends in autoimmune diseases.
• For common autoimmune diseases (including those that are overrepresented in women), evaluate the NIH research portfolio with particular attention to issues such as risk factors; diagnostic tools; barriers to diagnoses; treatments; and prospects for cures.
• Review NIH’s research activities related to specific autoimmune diseases, the occurrence of multiple autoimmune diseases in individuals, and the interplay of autoimmune diseases and comorbidities.
• Assess trends in the focus of NIH research and address whether the trends are reflective of the changes in epidemiology as compared to other factors such as availability of research tools and technologies, and emerging biomedical knowledge and concepts.
• Identify barriers to NIH-sponsored research and research gaps for autoimmune diseases.
• Identify promising areas for future NIH-sponsored research for autoimmune diseases that would benefit the greatest need.
• Evaluate Institute and Center structure in support of NIH autoimmune disease research to identify where needs are met and where coordination could beenhanced.
• Produce and publish a final consensus committee report summarizing the committee’s findings, conclusions, and recommendations. The report must address NIH accomplishments, challenges that NIH faces, as well as possible solutions to the challenges.