Overview
I have spent my career caring for children with autoimmune disorders and immune dysfunction. I have focused my work caring for children with juvenile dermatomyositis and auto inflammatory disorders. I have overseen a research program for 24 years studying the genetics and cause of human autoimmune disease, focused on dermatomyositis in children and adults. The long-term goal of my research team is to develop new biomarkers of diseases to identify those predisposed to develop disease, as well as monitor disease activity and response to treatment. My team makes extensive use of genomics, gene expression, protein expression and immunohistochemical techniques to study the inflammatory and non-inflammatory aspects of dermatomyositis diseases. Other autoimmune disease processes, including systemic lupus and vasculitis, have been focused on as well.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Samuel L. Katz Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics
·
2018 - Present
Pediatrics,
Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Pediatrics
·
2014 - Present
Pediatrics,
Clinical Science Departments
Recent Publications
Juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies assessment by magnetic resonance imaging: a scoping review of protocols, scoring systems, and applications.
Journal Article Adv Rheumatol · November 21, 2025 BACKGROUND:: Our review assessed whole body (WB) and dedicated body-part magnetic resonance imaging (DedMRI) techniques, protocols, and inflammatory scoring systems, focusing on their clinimetric properties (reliability, validity, responsiveness) in clinic ... Full text Link to item CiteHLA loci heterozygosity modulates genetic risk in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.
Journal Article Ann Rheum Dis · October 2025 OBJECTIVES: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are rare autoimmune disorders. Genetic association studies have highlighted the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphisms in IIM. We aimed to characterise the nonadditive effects (dominance an ... Full text Link to item CiteShared genetic susceptibility between idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and common B cell lymphoma subtypes found primarily in the human leucocyte antigen region.
Journal Article RMD Open · August 25, 2025 OBJECTIVES: To estimate shared genetic susceptibility between major subtypes of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and B cell lymphomas. METHODS: We paired summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of diffuse large B cell lympho ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Using Bioengineered Human Muscle to Develop Treatments for Juvenile Dermatomyositis
ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by Hartwell Foundation · 2025 - 2028An Invitation to Support the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by Mario Family Foundation · 2022 - 2026Using bioengineered human muscle to understand mechanisms of juvenile dermatomyositis
ResearchAdvisor · Awarded by Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance, Inc. · 2025 - 2026View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Medical College of Ohio ·
1984
M.D.