Rheumatology & Immunology | Research

The Division of Rheumatology and Immunology is the site of internationally recognized investigations into the pathogenesis of a variety of immunologic and rheumatologic diseases of childhood. The first recognition of a mutation in children with hyper IgE syndrome was conducted in the Division. Current efforts are detailed on the faculty home pages (links are provided on the personnel page) and include elucidation of the molecular basis of rheumotologic disease. Clinical investigation within the division includes protocols to evaluate novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. These studies are closely coordinated with investigations in the Shih laboratory on the molecular mechanisms of autoimmunity. The Division is also recognized for research into the genetic and molecular basis of metal metabolism and has been the site of cloning of several genes involved in rare inherited metabolic disorders of copper and iron metabolism.