My primary research aims to improve outcomes in the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (myositis) and associated interstitial lung disease. Since joining the University of Pittsburgh, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology as a faculty member in 2009, I have focused primarily on myositis research including clinical—autoantibody associations, outcomes research, biomarker identification, and leading several clinical trials. I co-direct the University of Pittsburgh Myositis Center with Dr. Oddis, and we developed the Rheumatic Disease Data Management System (RDMS). The RDMS is a web-based, multi-functional, longitudinal observational database collects disease-specific research and clinical data on myositis. I have leveraged the RDMS to publish a plethora of publications. Due to my experience in cohort assembly, management, and outcomes research, I was recently awarded an ACR-EULAR grant (co-PI) to develop and validate classification criteria for the anti-synthetase syndrome (CLASS project). Since inception, we have enrolled over 2,000 cases and controls of this rare entity from 150 centers in the world. In addition to cohort assembly, I have also run several multi-center clinical trials. Currently, I am the PI or Co-PI in three investigator-initiated clinical trials in myositis: assessing the efficacy and safety of Acthar gel, tocilizumab and abatacept respectively in each trial. To overcome the challenges of performing clinical trials in rare diseases such as myositis, I am spearheading myositis clinical trial consortium with like-minded junior and senior investigators to accelerate clinical trials in myositis. In sum, these projects have led to over 100 publications in clinical and translational research in myositis. My experience in multicenter cohort assembly and clinical trial development makes me an ideal consultant for Dr. Wilfong’s K08 research advisory committee, and I am delighted to advise her on proposed studies.
Ongoing and recent projects that I would like to highlight:
Funding agency/number: ACR-EULAR Award
Role: Co-Investigator
Title: Development and Validation of a Classification Criteria for Anti-Synthetase Syndrome
Award dates: 07/2018-06/2022
Funding agency/number: Investigator-Initiated Study: Bristal Myers Squibb
Role: Principal Investigator
Title: Abatacept in the Treatment of Myositis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease (NCT03215927)
Award dates: 09/2017-07/2022
Funding agency/number: Mallinckrodt, originally Questcor
Role: Principal Investigator
Title: Mechanistic Study to Evaluate Biomarkers in Myositis and Predictors of Response to Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Gel in Refractory Dermatomyositis or Polymyositis (NCT03414086)
Award dates: 09/2017-07/2022
