SPIN was founded by McGill University researcher Dr. Brett Thombs as a partnership of researchers, scleroderma clinicians, patient organizations, and patients, who work together to develop and test online programs to help people cope with important problems related to scleroderma. SPIN was launched in 2011 with seed funding from the Scleroderma Society of Ontario and Scleroderma Canada.
SPIN maintains a large cohort of over 1,800 scleroderma patients, recruited by scleroderma clinicians from around the world. These patients complete regular online questionnaires to help researchers understand their challenges and support needs.
SPIN’s mission is to work with people with scleroderma to identify their needs and prioritize research in areas most important to them and to develop, test, and disseminate accessible patient programs that improve quality of life and empower people with scleroderma and their loved ones.