Achievements and News

Dr. Ramahi Receives ACR Distinguished Fellow Award

Congratulations to Ahmad Ramahi, MD, MPH who received the 2022 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Distinguished Fellow Award. Read more.

Department of Internal Medicine Research Rounds

The theme of this quarter’s Department of Internal Medicine Research Rounds is “Systemic Sclerosis - Towards a Precision Medicine Approach” and will feature talks on cutting-edge research from members of the Scleroderma Program. Learn more.

Tofacitinib Shows Promise in Scleroderma Patients, Researchers Are Optimistic for Next Phase of Study

Researchers in the Division of Rheumatology and colleagues find that tofacitinib was well tolerated among patients with early systemic sclerosis in a phase I/II study. Read more.

How the Western Diet and Gut Bacteria Can Lead to Scarring, Vessel Damage in Scleroderma

Researchers in the Division of Rheumatology uncover a substance produced by gut microorganisms that can lead to scarring and blood vessel damage in patients with scleroderma. Read more.

Drugs Showing Promise in Cancer Trials Reduce Scarring for Scleroderma

Dr. Pei-Suen (Eliza) Tsou and team discover that drugs that inhibit BRD4, known to play a role in cancer, also affect fibrosis in scleroderma. Read more.

Nanoparticle Reduces Skin and Lung Scarring for Scleroderma

Dr. John Varga and his lab discover a biodegradable nanoparticle used in medical sutures could combat chronic inflammation and scarring in the lungs and skin of people with scleroderma. Read more.

Circulating CTRP9 Is Associated with Severity of SSc-Associated ILD

Dr. John Varga and researchers find that higher circulating levels of the protein CTRP9 are associated with worse lung function in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD). Read a brief overview and abstract.