What Cure JM Foundation does

Cure JM Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy and research organization founded in 2003 by parents and grandparents of children with juvenile myositis (JM), including co-founders Tom and Shari Hume. It operates as the self-described global leader in JM research and the largest funder of JM research worldwide, with cumulative research investment of $30 million across 219+ funded projects as of its 2025 Impact Report. JM is a rare, life-threatening autoimmune disease affecting approximately 1 in 500,000 children, where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. Cure JM's mission is to find a cure and better treatments while improving the lives of affected families.

The foundation's core offerings span three integrated programs. First, it funds a translational research portfolio including nucleic acid therapy (via UK-based NATA), vamorolone steroid-replacement trials (with ReveraGen), lab-grown human muscle replicas (with Duke University), large-scale genetic studies (with Baylor College of Medicine), and a $2M biomarker discovery program (with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative). Second, it operates a Clinical Care Network of 60+ specialist partner locations across 33 sites in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Italy, co-developed with consensus treatment plans from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). Third, it delivers family support services including a free membership program, the 450+ page 'Myositis and You' compendium, peer mentorship, mental health resources, 20+ regional chapters, virtual Town Hall 'Ask the Doc' sessions, and the Walk Strong to Cure JM signature fundraising events held across 10+ U.S. cities.

Cure JM generates revenue entirely through charitable donations, fundraising events, and institutional grants; all programs and resources are provided free of charge to families. The Walk Strong event series has raised over $4.5 million cumulatively, and the foundation reports more than $5 million committed to current research projects. Its reach extends to 3,000+ families and patients across 40 countries, supported by a small professional staff of approximately 15 and a 16+ member volunteer Board of Directors, with strategic oversight from a Medical Advisory Board chaired by Dr. Brian Feldman of the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. Documented outcomes include reducing average diagnosis time from 12 months to under 3 months (a 75% reduction) and reducing JM mortality from 25% to under 3%.

Name

Cure JM Foundation

Legal name

Cure JM Foundation

Website

https://curejm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cure JM Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 that funds juvenile myositis research, operates a 60+ location Clinical Care Network, and delivers free support programs to 3,000+ families across 40 countries affected by the rare autoimmune disease.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy and Rare Disease Research Foundation

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA), Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG)

Keywords

• Juvenile myositis research
• Patient advocacy foundation
• Rare disease research funding
• Clinical care network
• Family support services

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Cure JM Foundation generates revenue primarily through charitable donations from individuals, families, and supporters. Donations fund research grants, clinical care network development, family support programs, and operational costs.
2. Walk Strong Fundraising Events: The Walk Strong to Cure JM signature fundraising event series has raised more than $4.5 million to advance JM research. Funds are raised through participant fundraising, corporate sponsorships, and community donations.
3. Research Grants and Funding: Cure JM receives grant funding from partners including the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative ($2 million grant) and other institutional funders to advance specific research programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cure JM Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy and research organization that funds juvenile myositis research, operates a Clinical Care Network of JM-specialized physicians, and provides free family support services, educational resources, and community programs to families affected by JM. Its offerings include research grants, the 'Myositis and You' guide, mentor programs, mental health resources, Walk Strong fundraising events, regional chapters, and virtual Town Hall educational sessions.

Product overview

Cure JM Foundation is a nonprofit patient advocacy and research organization, not a technology product company. Its core offerings consist of research funding programs, healthcare provider networks, family support services, and educational resources. The organization operates a Clinical Care Network connecting families with JM specialists, funds research grants for new treatments, and provides community support through regional chapters, mentor programs, mental health resources, and educational materials including the 'Myositis and You' guide. Major programs include Walk Strong fundraising events, Town Hall educational sessions, and clinical trial information services. These programs work together to support families, advance research, and improve care for children with juvenile myositis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Support Network Peer support program connecting families, patients, and caregivers affected by juvenile myositis with others who understand their journey. Provides free access to peer connections and family mentorship.
• Clinical Care Network Network of physicians with deep knowledge and experience in juvenile myositis delivering coordinated, specialized care at 60+ partner locations across the U.S. and internationally (Canada, England, Italy).
• Research Grants Program Grant funding program for clinicians and researchers working to improve juvenile myositis care and advance research toward better treatments and a cure. Includes $2M Chan Zuckerberg Initiative rare disease research grant.
• Walk Strong to Cure JM Signature annual fundraising walk events held across U.S. cities (D.C., Nashville, Raleigh-Durham, Reno, Michigan, Atlanta, Boston, Austin, Houston, Northern California, and more) raising funds and awareness for JM research, featuring food, fun, and community connection.
• Town Hall Series (Ask the Doc) Virtual educational sessions featuring expert physicians and researchers covering juvenile myositis treatments, research updates, social and emotional health topics. Held regularly and accessible globally.
• Myositis and You Comprehensive 450+ page digital guide with contributions from over 80 experts and medical professionals, provided free to families joining Cure JM Foundation.
• Mental Health Resources Program Resources addressing the emotional and mental health challenges faced by JM patients and families, including support groups, counseling referrals, crisis hotlines, and dedicated Mental Health Coordinator services.
• Clinical Trials Information Portal Portal connecting families with information about clinical trials for juvenile myositis treatments, including CAR-T therapy trials (CABA-201, FT819, Descartes-08), JAK inhibitors, and other novel approaches, supporting patient participation.
• Regional Chapters Program 20+ local community chapters across the U.S. providing regional support, educational events, and social activities for families affected by juvenile myositis.
• Cure JM Mentor Program Program connecting newly diagnosed families with experienced individuals who have walked a similar path and come through healthy and thriving, offering practical guidance and emotional support.
• Grandparent Alliance Program providing grandparent-specific resources, support for grandparents caring for grandchildren with JM, and connection with other grandparents navigating similar situations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced diagnosis time by 75%: from 12 months to under 3 months
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Cabaletta BiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCure JM supports and promotes the RESET-Myositis clinical trial testing CABA-201 CAR-T cell therapy designed to 'reset' the immune system for lasting remission in myositis patients. Early data from trials showed positive safety and clinical response signs.
• Fate TherapeuticsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCure JM promotes the FT819 Phase 1 clinical trial, an off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapy targeting B cells involved in autoimmune disease, made from healthy donor cells available on demand.
• Cartesian TherapeuticsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCure JM supports the HELIOS Trial evaluating Descartes-08, an mRNA-based CAR-T therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults with childhood-onset SLE, AAV, juvenile myasthenia gravis, and JDM.
• Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator (NATA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based NATA scientists, backed by Cure JM funding, are creating nucleic acid medicines that suppress immune system signals causing myositis inflammation.
• ReveraGen BioPharmamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCure JM partnered with ReveraGen to advance vamorolone, a steroid replacement drug with steroid benefits without devastating side effects, toward clinical trial in JM.
• Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCure JM supports and promotes CARRA consensus treatment plans for juvenile dermatomyositis developed by leading physicians, providing standardized treatment protocols for newly diagnosed and moderate JDM patients.
• Duke UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCure JM funded Dr. Lauren Covert's seed grant research at Duke University to develop lab-grown human muscle replicas that mimic JM effects, leading to significant scientific breakthroughs.
• Baylor College of MedicinemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCure JM-funded study led by Dr. Younghun Han compared DNA of 3,000+ myositis patients to 12,000 healthy volunteers, finding major forms of myositis share similar genetic wiring, pointing toward faster treatments.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCure JM collaborates with NIH on training, physician education, and clinical trials including the FAST for DM study on fatty acid supplementation and Rare Disease Day sessions.
• National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NCATS accelerates new treatments for juvenile myositis through drug discovery and development processes.
• argenxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCure JM promotes empasiprubart Phase 2 clinical trial sponsored by argenx, evaluating efficacy in adults with dermatomyositis.
• AstraZenecaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCure JM promotes the JASMINE Phase 3 clinical trial for anifrolumab, a subcutaneous medication targeting type I interferon pathways to reduce inflammation in myositis.
• Cleveland ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland Clinic sponsors Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating topical ruxolitinib 1.5% cream for refractory cutaneous dermatomyositis, supported by Cure JM family education.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): Large established rare-disease research foundation with a similar fundraising and clinical-care-network model covering multiple neuromuscular conditions. Represents the incumbent benchmark for rare-disease family-support foundations.
• Arthritis Foundation: National 501(c)(3) funding arthritis and related rheumatologic research including juvenile forms. Operates at a much larger scale than Cure JM and overlaps in pediatric rheumatology, research funding, and family support programs.

Others

• Cure SMA: Parent-driven rare-disease research foundation with a similar disease-modifying mission, family-support programs, and research-funding model for spinal muscular atrophy. Comparable in scale and structure to Cure JM within the rare-disease nonprofit ecosystem.
• Scleroderma Foundation: Patient advocacy and research foundation supporting people with scleroderma and their families. Structurally aligned with Cure JM in mission, funding model, and support programs, but focused on a different connective tissue/autoimmune disease.
• American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA): Umbrella organization advancing research, policy, and education across autoimmune conditions including myositis. Operates upstream of Cure JM in advocacy and coalition-building, with overlapping patient communities.
• Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy: Parent-led rare-disease research foundation funding Duchenne muscular dystrophy research. Closely analogous to Cure JM in operating model — volunteer-driven, disease-specific, family-led, and focused on accelerating disease-modifying therapies.
• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): Umbrella rare-disease organization that includes juvenile myositis among many conditions, offering research grants, patient services, and policy advocacy. Functions as both a potential funder and a peer in the rare-disease nonprofit space.
• Lupus Foundation of America: Autoimmune disease research and patient advocacy foundation structurally similar to Cure JM (donations, walks, research grants, family support), but focused on lupus — a related autoimmune condition with comparable patient-support needs.

Direct peers

• Myositis Support & Understanding Association: A patient-led myositis advocacy organization with a similar support-community, education, and fundraising model focused exclusively on myositis patients and families, making it the closest peer in scope and audience.
• The Myositis Association: Covers adult and juvenile myositis research and patient support. The most direct counterpart to Cure JM, operating a parallel mission across the same disease community with overlapping education, advocacy, and research-grant activities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CureJMFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/curejm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cure-jm-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/curejm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles29 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cure JM Foundation