Mara Becker | Scholars@Duke

Mara Becker
Professor of Pediatrics

My long-term research goal is to identify factors that enhance response and minimize toxicity to drugs used for the treatment of diseases in children, focusing on an individualized therapeutic strategy. My current translational research focuses on methotrexate and its effect upon the folate pathway, utilizing cellular biomarkers and genetic differences to predict drug efficacy and minimize toxicity in JIA. My work has expanded through key collaborations, to include a mouse model for experimental validation of the work, novel cytokine biomarkers including Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), biologic therapeutic drug monitoring in JIA and IBD, and exploration of the folate pathway in patients with Down syndrome.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, Rheumatology, Pediatrics 2021
Vice-Chair for Faculty, Pediatrics, Clinical Science Departments 2019
Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Institutes and Centers 2019

Contact Information

2301 Erwin Road, Chc T-091, Durham, NC 27710
2301 Erwin Road, Chc T-091 (Dumc 3352), Durham, NC 27710
mara.becker@duke.edu
Duke Pediatrics Faculty Development

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- M.S., University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine 2007
- Rheumatology Fellow, Pediatrics/Dupont Hospital For Children, Thomas Jefferson University 2003 - 2004
- Chief Resident, Pediatrics/Dupont Hospital For Children, Thomas Jefferson University 2002 - 2003
- Residency, Pediatrics/Dupont Hospital For Children, Thomas Jefferson University 1999 - 2002
- M.D., Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Medical College 1999
Duke Appointment History
- Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, Rheumatology, Pediatrics 2020 - 2021
- Instructor in the Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, Rheumatology, Pediatrics 2019 - 2020
- Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, Rheumatology, Pediatrics 2019
Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke
- Vice Chair for Faculty, Department of Pediatrics
  Chair of the Department of Pediatrics AP&T Committee
Academic Positions Outside Duke
- Rheumatology Suboard, American Board of Pediatrics. 2020 - 2025
- Member-at Large, Board of Directors, Rheuamtology Research Foundation. 2019 - 2022
- Chair, JIA Committee, CARRA. 2019 - 2022
- Arthritis Advisory Committee, Food and Drug Administration. 2015 - 2021
Expertise
Subject Headings
Research
Selected Grants
- Duke-UNC Collaborative Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology Postdoctoral Training Program awarded by National Institutes of Health 2021 - 2026
- Optimal Dosing for Biologic Agents in Obese Patients with Rheumatoid and Juvenile Arthritis awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2025
- Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Safety Trials in Down Syndrome awarded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 2019 - 2025
- PTN 2.0 TO 6 Down Syndrome Extension awarded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 2019 - 2025
- PTN 2.0- TO 3 - Option 3 - BPCA Concept Development and Clinical Trial Readiness Support awarded by National Institute for Child Health & Human Develo 2021 - 2022
- Identifying Pharmacogenomic Predictors of Methotrexate Response and Metabolite Biotransformation in JIA awarded by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 2017 - 2022
- HCQ Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Lupus awarded by Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance, Inc. 2019 - 2020
External Relationships
- American Board of Pediatrics
- American College of Rheumatology
- Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance
- Food and Drug Administration
- Rheumatology Research Foundation
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Books
  - Becker, M. L. Rash and Joint Pain in a Child, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444397994.ch40.
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  - Becker, M. L. Skin Target Lesion, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444397994.ch76.
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- Academic Articles
  - Randell, Rachel L., and Mara L. Becker. “Safety updates in novel therapeutics for pediatric rheumatic disease.” Curr Opin Rheumatol 33, no. 5 (September 1, 2021): 403–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/BOR.0000000000000811.
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  - Beukelman, Timothy, Aimee Lougee, Roland A. Matsouaka, David Collier, Dax G. Rumsey, Jennifer Schenfeld, Scott Stryker, Marinka Twilt, Yukiko Kimura, and Yukiko CARRA Registry Investigators. “Patterns of etanercept use in juvenile idiopathic arthritis in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry.” Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 19, no. 1 (August 21, 2021): 131. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-021-00625-y.
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  - Balmuri, Nayimisha, William Daniel Soulsby, Victoria Cooley, Linda Gerber, Erica Lawson, Susan Goodman, Karen Onel, Bella Mehta, and Bella CARRA Registry Investigators,. “Community poverty level influences time to first pediatric rheumatology appointment in Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.” Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 19, no. 1 (August 14, 2021): 122. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-021-00610-5.
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  - Mannion, Melissa L., Fenglong Xie, Daniel B. Horton, Sarah Ringold, Colleen K. Correll, Anne Dennos, Timothy Beukelman, and Timothy CARRA Registry Investigators. “Biologic Switching Among Nonsystemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Patients: A Cohort Study in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry.” J Rheumatol 48, no. 8 (August 2021): 1322–29. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.200437.
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  - Becker, Mara L., and Walter K. Kraft. “Seeking Similarities Rather Than Differences With Adults to Aid in Therapeutic Advancement for Children.” Clin Pharmacol Ther 110, no. 1 (July 2021): 11–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.2285.
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  - Rumsey, Dax G., Aimee Lougee, Roland Matsouaka, David H. Collier, Laura E. Schanberg, Jennifer Schenfeld, Natalie J. Shiff, et al. “Juvenile Spondyloarthritis in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry: High Biologic Use, Low Prevalence of HLA-B27, and Equal Sex Representation in Sacroiliitis.” Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 73, no. 7 (July 2021): 940–46. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24537.
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  - Chang, Hsuan Ping, Valentina Shakhnovich, Adam Frymoyer, Ryan Sol Funk, Mara L. Becker, K. T. Park, and Dhaval K. Shah. “A population physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model to characterize antibody disposition in pediatrics and evaluation of the model using infliximab.” Br J Clin Pharmacol, June 29, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.14963.
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  - Kimura, Yukiko, Laura E. Schanberg, George A. Tomlinson, Mary Ellen Riordan, Anne C. Dennos, Vincent Del Gaizo, Katherine L. Murphy, et al. “Optimizing the Start Time of Biologics in Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Comparative Effectiveness Study of Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Consensus Treatment Plans.” Arthritis Rheumatol, June 8, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.41888.
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  - Ong, Mei Sing, Sarah Ringold, Yukiko Kimura, Laura E. Schanberg, George A. Tomlinson, Marc D. Natter, and Marc D. and the CARRA Registry Investigators. “Improved Disease Course Associated With Early Initiation of Biologics in Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Trajectory Analysis of a Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Consensus Treatment Plans Study.” Arthritis Rheumatol, June 8, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.41892.
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  - Morrow, Ryan, Ryan Funk, Mara Becker, Ashley Sherman, Leon Van Haandel, Taina Hudson, Rebecca Casini, and Valentina Shakhnovich. “Potential Role of Methotrexate Polyglutamates in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.” Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 14, no. 5 (May 14, 2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14050463.
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  - Funk, Ryan S., Valentina Shakhnovich, Yu Kyoung Cho, Kishore Polireddy, Taina Jausurawong, Kyle Gress, and Mara L. Becker. “Factors associated with reduced infliximab exposure in the treatment of pediatric autoimmune disorders: a cross-sectional prospective convenience sampling study.” Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 19, no. 1 (May 1, 2021): 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-021-00548-8.
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  - Maller, Justine, Emily Fox, K. T. Park, Sarah Sertial Paul, Kevin Baszis, Charlotte Borocco, Sampath Prahalad, et al. “Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children With Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.” J Rheumatol 48, no. 4 (April 2021): 567–74. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.200230.
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  - Kaufman, Katherine P., and Mara L. Becker. “Distinguishing Blau Syndrome from Systemic Sarcoidosis.” Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 21, no. 2 (February 9, 2021): 10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-021-00991-3.
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  - Cannon, Laura, Endi Wang, and Mara Becker. “Diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in an 11-year-old girl with fever and sickle cell disease.” Bmj Case Rep 13, no. 8 (August 24, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-234302.
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  - Li, Suzanne C., Kathryn S. Torok, C Egla Rabinovich, Fatma Dedeoglu, Mara L. Becker, Polly J. Ferguson, Sandy D. Hong, et al. “Initial Results from a Pilot Comparative Effectiveness Study of 3 Methotrexate-based Consensus Treatment Plans for Juvenile Localized Scleroderma.” J Rheumatol 47, no. 8 (August 1, 2020): 1242–52. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.190311.
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  - Nicek, Anna, Nasreen Talib, Daniel Lovell, Chelsey Smith, Mara L. Becker, and Jordan T. Jones. “Assessment and treatment of Down syndrome-associated arthritis: a survey of pediatric rheumatologists.” Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 18, no. 1 (July 13, 2020): 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-020-00445-6.
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  - Funk, Ryan S., Nasreen J. Talib, Kanecia O. Zimmerman, Leon van Haandel, and Mara L. Becker. “Altered Folate Homeostasis in Children with Down Syndrome: A Potential Basis for Enhanced Methotrexate Toxicity.” J Pediatr 221 (June 2020): 235–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.01.032.
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  - Funk, Ryan S., Rakesh K. Singh, and Mara L. Becker. “Metabolomic Profiling to Identify Molecular Biomarkers of Cellular Response to Methotrexate In Vitro.” Clin Transl Sci 13, no. 1 (January 2020): 137–46. https://doi.org/10.1111/cts.12694.
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  - Pasnoor, Mamatha, Andrew J. Heim, Laura Herbelin, Jeffrey Statland, Mazen M. Dimachkie, Mara Becker, Richard J. Barohn, and Richard J. Methotrexate in MG Investigators of the Muscle Group Study. “Methotrexate Polyglutamation in a Myasthenia Gravis Clinical Trial.” Kans J Med 13, no. Suppl 2 (2020): 10–13.
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  - Neely, Jessica, Craig S. Long, Hugh Sturrock, Susan Kim, and Susan Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry Investigators. “Association of Short-Term Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure and Disease Severity in Juvenile Dermatomyositis: Results From the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Legacy Registry.” Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 71, no. 12 (December 2019): 1600–1605. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.23840.
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  - Connelly, Mark, Jennifer E. Weiss, and Jennifer E. for the CARRA Registry Investigators. “Pain, functional disability, and their Association in Juvenile Fibromyalgia Compared to other pediatric rheumatic diseases.” Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 17, no. 1 (November 6, 2019): 72. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-019-0375-9.
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  - Li, Suzanne C., Robert C. Fuhlbrigge, Ronald M. Laxer, Elena Pope, Maria F. Ibarra, Katie Stewart, Thomas Mason, et al. “Developing comparative effectiveness studies for a rare, understudied pediatric disease: lessons learned from the CARRA juvenile localized scleroderma consensus treatment plan pilot study.” Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 17, no. 1 (July 15, 2019): 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-019-0350-5.
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  - Lund, Robin M., Mara L. Becker, Steven Shapiro, Tyler Allison, and Julia G. Harris. “Scurvy presenting with limp and weakness: a case report.” Bmc Pediatr 19, no. 1 (July 6, 2019): 228. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-019-1605-5.
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  - Zimmerman, Kanecia O., Daniel K. Benjamin, and Mara L. Becker. “Neonatal Therapeutics: Considerations for Dosing.” Am J Perinatol 36, no. S 02 (July 2019): S18–21. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-1691772.
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  - Singh, Rakesh K., Leon van Haandel, Paul Kiptoo, Mara L. Becker, Teruna J. Siahaan, and Ryan S. Funk. “Methotrexate disposition, anti-folate activity and efficacy in the collagen-induced arthritis mouse model.” Eur J Pharmacol 853 (June 15, 2019): 264–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.03.052.
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  - Angeles-Han, Sheila T., Sarah Ringold, Timothy Beukelman, Daniel Lovell, Carlos A. Cuello, Mara L. Becker, Robert A. Colbert, et al. “2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Screening, Monitoring, and Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Uveitis.” Arthritis Rheumatol 71, no. 6 (June 2019): 864–77. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.40885.
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  - Angeles-Han, Sheila T., Sarah Ringold, Timothy Beukelman, Daniel Lovell, Carlos A. Cuello, Mara L. Becker, Robert A. Colbert, et al. “2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Screening, Monitoring, and Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Uveitis.” Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 71, no. 6 (June 2019): 703–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.23871.
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  - Ringold, Sarah, Sheila T. Angeles-Han, Timothy Beukelman, Daniel Lovell, Carlos A. Cuello, Mara L. Becker, Robert A. Colbert, et al. “2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Therapeutic Approaches for Non-Systemic Polyarthritis, Sacroiliitis, and Enthesitis.” Arthritis Rheumatol 71, no. 6 (June 2019): 846–63. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.40884.
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  - Ringold, Sarah, Sheila T. Angeles-Han, Timothy Beukelman, Daniel Lovell, Carlos A. Cuello, Mara L. Becker, Robert A. Colbert, et al. “2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Therapeutic Approaches for Non-Systemic Polyarthritis, Sacroiliitis, and Enthesitis.” Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 71, no. 6 (June 2019): 717–34. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.23870.
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  - Cooper, Ashley M., Mara Horwitz, and Mara L. Becker. “Improving the Safety of Teratogen Prescribing Practices in a Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic.” Pediatrics 143, no. 4 (April 2019). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-0803.
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  - Ramsey, Laura B., Halima Moncrieffe, Chelsey N. Smith, Marc Sudman, Miranda C. Marion, Carl D. Langefeld, Mara L. Becker, and Susan D. Thompson. “Association of SLCO 1B1 *14 Allele with Poor Response to Methotrexate in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Patients.” Acr Open Rheumatology 1, no. 1 (March 2019): 58–62. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.1008.
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  - Jones, Jordan T., Nasreen Talib, Daniel Lovell, and Mara L. Becker. “Clinical Features and Treatment of Down Syndrome Arthropathy: Experience from Two US Tertiary Hospitals.” Paediatr Drugs 21, no. 1 (February 2019): 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40272-018-0322-0.
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  - Brunner, Hermine I., Nikolay Tzaribachev, Gabriel Vega-Cornejo, Ingrid Louw, Alberto Berman, Inmaculada Calvo Penadés, Jordi Antón, et al. “Subcutaneous Abatacept in Patients With Polyarticular-Course Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Results From a Phase III Open-Label Study.” Arthritis Rheumatol 70, no. 7 (July 2018): 1144–54. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.40466.
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  - Hinks, Anne, Miranda C. Marion, Joanna Cobb, Mary E. Comeau, Marc Sudman, Hannah C. Ainsworth, John Bowes, et al. “Brief Report: The Genetic Profile of Rheumatoid Factor-Positive Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Resembles That of Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis.” Arthritis Rheumatol 70, no. 6 (June 2018): 957–62. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.40443.
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  - Singh, Rakesh K., Leon van Haandel, Daniel P. Heruth, Shui Q. Ye, J Steven Leeder, Mara L. Becker, and Ryan S. Funk. “Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiency Potentiates the Antiproliferative Activity of Methotrexate through Enhanced Depletion of Intracellular ATP.” J Pharmacol Exp Ther 365, no. 1 (April 2018): 96–106. https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.117.246199.
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  - Becker, Mara L., and Ryan S. Funk. “Reverse Translation in Advancing Pharmacotherapy in Pediatric Rheumatology: A Logical Approach in Rare Diseases with Limited Resources.” Clin Transl Sci 11, no. 2 (March 2018): 106–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/cts.12513.
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  - McIntosh, Laura A., Miranda C. Marion, Marc Sudman, Mary E. Comeau, Mara L. Becker, John F. Bohnsack, Tasha E. Fingerlin, et al. “Genome-Wide Association Meta-Analysis Reveals Novel Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Susceptibility Loci.” Arthritis Rheumatol 69, no. 11 (November 2017): 2222–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.40216.
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  - Balevic, Stephen J., Mara L. Becker, Michael Cohen-Wolkowiez, and Laura E. Schanberg. “Clinical Trial Design in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.” Paediatr Drugs 19, no. 5 (October 2017): 379–89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40272-017-0244-2.
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  - Moncrieffe, Halima, Mark F. Bennett, Monica Tsoras, Lorie K. Luyrink, Anne L. Johnson, Huan Xu, Jason Dare, et al. “Transcriptional profiles of JIA patient blood with subsequent poor response to methotrexate.” Rheumatology (Oxford) 56, no. 9 (September 1, 2017): 1542–51. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kex206.
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  - Kishi, Takayuki, Lisa G. Rider, Katherine Pak, Lilliana Barillas-Arias, Michael Henrickson, Paul L. McCarthy, Bracha Shaham, et al. “Association of Anti-3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A Reductase Autoantibodies With DRB1*07:01 and Severe Myositis in Juvenile Myositis Patients.” Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 69, no. 7 (July 2017): 1088–94. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.23113.
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  - Funk, Ryan S., Marcia A. Chan, and Mara L. Becker. “Cytokine Biomarkers of Disease Activity and Therapeutic Response after Initiating Methotrexate Therapy in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.” Pharmacotherapy 37, no. 6 (June 2017): 700–711. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.1938.
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  - Rider, Lisa G., Rohit Aggarwal, Angela Pistorio, Nastaran Bayat, Brian Erman, Brian M. Feldman, Adam M. Huber, et al. “2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Criteria for Minimal, Moderate, and Major Clinical Response in Juvenile Dermatomyositis: An International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group/Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation Collaborative Initiative.” Arthritis Rheumatol 69, no. 5 (May 2017): 911–23. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.40060.
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  - Hinks, A., J. Bowes, J. Cobb, H. C. Ainsworth, M. C. Marion, M. E. Comeau, M. Sudman, et al. “Fine-mapping the MHC locus in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) reveals genetic heterogeneity corresponding to distinct adult inflammatory arthritic diseases.” Ann Rheum Dis 76, no. 4 (April 2017): 765–72. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210025.
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  - Kessler, Elizabeth A., Ashley K. Sherman, and Mara L. Becker. “Decreasing patient cost and travel time through pediatric rheumatology telemedicine visits.” Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 14, no. 1 (September 20, 2016): 54. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-016-0116-2.
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  - Pasnoor, Mamatha, Jianghua He, Laura Herbelin, Ted M. Burns, Sharon Nations, Vera Bril, Annabel K. Wang, et al. “A randomized controlled trial of methotrexate for patients with generalized myasthenia gravis.” Neurology 87, no. 1 (July 5, 2016): 57–64. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000002795.
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  - Funk, R. S., R. Singh, L. Pramann, N. Gigliotti, S. Islam, D. P. Heruth, S. Q. Ye, M. A. Chan, J. S. Leeder, and M. L. Becker. “Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Attenuates Methotrexate Response in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and In Vitro.” Clin Transl Sci 9, no. 3 (June 2016): 149–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/cts.12399.
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  - Finkel, Terri H., Jin Li, Zhi Wei, Wei Wang, Haitao Zhang, Edward M. Behrens, Emma L. Reuschel, et al. “Variants in CXCR4 associate with juvenile idiopathic arthritis susceptibility.” Bmc Med Genet 17 (March 22, 2016): 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12881-016-0285-3.
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  - Prahalad, Sampath, Courtney E. McCracken, Lori A. Ponder, Sheila T. Angeles-Han, Kelly A. Rouster Stevens, Larry B. Vogler, Carl D. Langefeld, Susan D. Thompson, and Susan D. Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry Investigators. “Familial autoimmunity in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance registry.” Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 14, no. 1 (March 10, 2016): 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-016-0075-7.
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  - Funk, R. S., and M. L. Becker. “Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: striving for individualized therapy.” Expert Review of Precision Medicine and Drug Development 1, no. 1 (January 2, 2016): 53–68. https://doi.org/10.1080/23808993.2016.1133234.
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  - Becker, M. L. “Using Methotrexate Metabolites to Make Clinical Decisions in JIA.” Current Treatment Options in Rheumatology 1, no. 4 (December 1, 2015): 381–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40674-015-0028-1.
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  - Li, Yun R., Sihai D. Zhao, Jin Li, Jonathan P. Bradfield, Maede Mohebnasab, Laura Steel, Julie Kobie, et al. “Genetic sharing and heritability of paediatric age of onset autoimmune diseases.” Nat Commun 6 (October 9, 2015): 8442. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms9442.
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  - Li, Yun R., Sihai D. Zhao, Jin Li, Jonathan P. Bradfield, Maede Mohebnasab, Laura Steel, Julie Kobie, et al. “Genetic sharing and heritability of paediatric age of onset autoimmune diseases.” Nat Commun 6 (October 9, 2015): 8442. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms9442.
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  - Chiaroni-Clarke, R. C., Y. R. Li, J. E. Munro, R. A. Chavez, K. J. Scurrah, A. Pezic, J. D. Akikusa, et al. “The association of PTPN22 rs2476601 with juvenile idiopathic arthritis is specific to females.” Genes Immun 16, no. 7 (October 2015): 495–98. https://doi.org/10.1038/gene.2015.32.
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  - Li, Yun R., Jin Li, Sihai D. Zhao, Jonathan P. Bradfield, Frank D. Mentch, S Melkorka Maggadottir, Cuiping Hou, et al. “Meta-analysis of shared genetic architecture across ten pediatric autoimmune diseases.” Nat Med 21, no. 9 (September 2015): 1018–27. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3933.
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  - Li, Yun R., Jin Li, Sihai D. Zhao, Jonathan P. Bradfield, Frank D. Mentch, S Melkorka Maggadottir, Cuiping Hou, et al. “Meta-analysis of shared genetic architecture across ten pediatric autoimmune diseases.” Nat Med 21, no. 9 (September 2015): 1018–27. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3933.
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  - Ellis, Justine A., Katrina J. Scurrah, Yun R. Li, Anne-Louise Ponsonby, Raul A. Chavez, Angela Pezic, Terence Dwyer, et al. “Epistasis amongst PTPN2 and genes of the vitamin D pathway contributes to risk of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 145 (January 2015): 113–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.10.012.
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  - Funk, Ryan S., Leon van Haandel, J Steven Leeder, and Mara L. Becker. “Folate depletion and increased glutamation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients treated with methotrexate.” Arthritis Rheumatol 66, no. 12 (December 2014): 3476–85. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.38865.
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  - Rouster-Stevens, Kelly A., Stacy P. Ardoin, Ashley M. Cooper, Mara L. Becker, Leonard L. Dragone, Anna Huttenlocher, Karla B. Jones, et al. “Choosing Wisely: the American College of Rheumatology's Top 5 for pediatric rheumatology.” Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 66, no. 5 (May 2014): 649–57. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.22238.
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  - Kessler, Elizabeth A., and Mara L. Becker. “Therapeutic advancements in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 28, no. 2 (April 2014): 293–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.berh.2014.03.005.
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  - Robinson, Angela Byun, Mark F. Hoeltzel, Dawn M. Wahezi, Mara L. Becker, Elizabeth A. Kessler, Heinrike Schmeling, Ruy Carrasco, et al. “Clinical characteristics of children with juvenile dermatomyositis: the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry.” Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 66, no. 3 (March 2014): 404–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.22142.
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  - Hashkes, Philip J., Mara L. Becker, David A. Cabral, Ronald M. Laxer, Amy S. Paller, C Egla Rabinovich, Dan Turner, and Francesco Zulian. “Methotrexate: new uses for an old drug.” J Pediatr 164, no. 2 (February 2014): 231–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.10.029.
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  - Grigoryev, D. N., J. Dalal, M. L. Becker, and S. Q. Ye. “Combined meta-analysis of systemic effects of allogeneic stem cell transplantation and systemic sclerosis.” Bmc Hematology 14, no. 1 (January 1, 2014): 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/2052-1839-14-7.
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  - Dai, Hongying, Richard J. Charnigo, Mara L. Becker, J Steven Leeder, and Alison A. Motsinger-Reif. “Risk score modeling of multiple gene to gene interactions using aggregated-multifactor dimensionality reduction.” Biodata Mining 6, no. 1 (December 2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0381-6-1.
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  - Polk, Brooke I., and Mara L. Becker. “Pharmacogenomics in childhood rheumatic disorders: a foundation for future individualized therapy.” Discov Med 16, no. 90 (December 2013): 267–75.
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  - Patel, Devika, Nathan Cook, Brandon Newell, and Mara Becker. “Fever, irritability, and ulcerations in an infant.” Pediatr Dermatol 30, no. 6 (November 2013): e287–88. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1470.2012.01778.x.
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  - Funk, Ryan S., Leon van Haandel, Mara L. Becker, and J Steven Leeder. “Low-dose methotrexate results in the selective accumulation of aminoimidazole carboxamide ribotide in an erythroblastoid cell line.” J Pharmacol Exp Ther 347, no. 1 (October 2013): 154–63. https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.113.206672.
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  - Fox, Emily J., J Steven Leeder, Shui Q. Ye, and Mara L. Becker. “Decreased expression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis receiving methotrexate.” J Rheumatol 40, no. 5 (May 2013): 741–42. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.120639.
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  - Becker, M. L. “Role of methotrexate in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Where we have been and where we are going.” International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology 8, no. 1 (February 1, 2013): 123–35. https://doi.org/10.2217/ijr.12.81.
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  - Becker, Mara L. “Pharmacogenomics in pediatric rheumatology.” Curr Opin Rheumatol 24, no. 5 (September 2012): 541–47. https://doi.org/10.1097/BOR.0b013e3283556d13.
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  - Li, Suzanne C., Kathryn S. Torok, Elena Pope, Fatma Dedeoglu, Sandy Hong, Heidi T. Jacobe, C Egla Rabinovich, et al. “Development of consensus treatment plans for juvenile localized scleroderma: a roadmap toward comparative effectiveness studies in juvenile localized scleroderma.” Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 64, no. 8 (August 2012): 1175–85. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.21687.
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  - Haandel, Leon van, Mara L. Becker, Todd D. Williams, John F. Stobaugh, and J Steven Leeder. “Comprehensive quantitative measurement of folate polyglutamates in human erythrocytes by ion pairing ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.” Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 26, no. 14 (July 30, 2012): 1617–30. https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.6268.
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  - Hinks, Anne, Joanna Cobb, Marc Sudman, Stephen Eyre, Paul Martin, Edward Flynn, Jonathon Packham, et al. “Investigation of rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility loci in juvenile idiopathic arthritis confirms high degree of overlap.” Ann Rheum Dis 71, no. 7 (July 2012): 1117–21. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200814.
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  - Dai, H., M. Bhandary, M. Becker, J. S. Leeder, R. Gaedigk, and A. A. Motsinger-Reif. “Global tests of P-values for multifactor dimensionality reduction models in selection of optimal number of target genes.” Biodata Mining 5, no. 1 (May 23, 2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0381-5-3.
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  - Becker, M. L. “Optimization of pediatric rheumatology therapeutics.” Clin Pharmacol Ther 91, no. 4 (April 2012): 597–606. https://doi.org/10.1038/clpt.2011.293.
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  - Becker, Mara L., Leon van Haandel, Roger Gaedigk, Bradley Thomas, Mark F. Hoeltzel, Andrew Lasky, Hongying Dai, John Stobaugh, and James S. Leeder. “Red blood cell folate concentrations and polyglutamate distribution in juvenile arthritis: predictors of folate variability.” Pharmacogenet Genomics 22, no. 4 (April 2012): 236–46. https://doi.org/10.1097/FPC.0b013e3283500202.
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  - Goldman, Jennifer, Mara L. Becker, Bridgette Jones, Mark Clements, and J Steven Leeder. “Development of biomarkers to optimize pediatric patient management: what makes children different?” Biomark Med 5, no. 6 (December 2011): 781–94. https://doi.org/10.2217/bmm.11.96.
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  - Haandel, Leon van, Mara L. Becker, T. D. Williams, J Steven Leeder, and John F. Stobaugh. “Measurement of methotrexate polyglutamates in human erythrocytes by ion-pair UPLC-MS/MS.” Bioanalysis 3, no. 24 (December 2011): 2783–96. https://doi.org/10.4155/bio.11.288.
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  - Mikkelsen, Torben S., Caroline F. Thorn, Jun J. Yang, Cornelia M. Ulrich, Deborah French, Gianluigi Zaza, Henry M. Dunnenberger, et al. “PharmGKB summary: methotrexate pathway.” Pharmacogenet Genomics 21, no. 10 (October 2011): 679–86. https://doi.org/10.1097/FPC.0b013e328343dd93.
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  - Neville, Kathleen A., Mara L. Becker, Jennifer L. Goldman, and Gregory L. Kearns. “Developmental pharmacogenomics.” Paediatr Anaesth 21, no. 3 (March 2011): 255–65. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-9592.2011.03533.x.
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  - Becker, Mara L., Roger Gaedigk, Leon van Haandel, Bradley Thomas, Andrew Lasky, Mark Hoeltzel, Hongying Dai, John Stobaugh, and J Steven Leeder. “The effect of genotype on methotrexate polyglutamate variability in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and association with drug response.” Arthritis Rheum 63, no. 1 (January 2011): 276–85. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.30080.
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  - Hinks, A., P. Martin, E. Flynn, S. Eyre, J. Packham, A. Barton, E. Baildam, et al. “Investigation of type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease susceptibility loci for association with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 69, no. 12 (December 1, 2010): 2169–72. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2009.126938.
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  - Becker, Mara L., and J Steven Leeder. “Identifying genomic and developmental causes of adverse drug reactions in children.” Pharmacogenomics 11, no. 11 (November 2010): 1591–1602. https://doi.org/10.2217/pgs.10.146.
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  - Hinks, A., P. Martin, E. Flynn, S. Eyre, J. Packham, J. Childhood Arthritis Prospective Study (CAPS), UKRAG Consortium, BSPAR Study Group, A. Barton, J. Worthington, and W. Thomson. “Association of the CCR5 gene with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” Genes Immun 11, no. 7 (October 2010): 584–89. https://doi.org/10.1038/gene.2010.25.
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  - Becker, M. L., and J. S. Leeder. “Developmental pharmacogenetics in pediatric rheumatology: Utilizing a new paradigm to effectively treat patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis with methotrexate.” Human Genomics and Proteomics, August 13, 2010. https://doi.org/10.4061/2010/257120.
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  - Haandel, L. V., A. A. M. Heemskerk, M. L. Becker, J. S. Leeder, and J. F. Stobaugh. “Expedient methodology for total methotrexate polyglutamation pool determination in human erythrocytes.” Analytical Methods 2, no. 7 (July 1, 2010): 831–36. https://doi.org/10.1039/c0ay00164c.
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  - Becker, Mara L., Leon van Haandel, Roger Gaedigk, Andrew Lasky, Mark Hoeltzel, John Stobaugh, and J Steven Leeder. “Analysis of intracellular methotrexate polyglutamates in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: effect of route of administration on variability in intracellular methotrexate polyglutamate concentrations.” Arthritis Rheum 62, no. 6 (June 2010): 1803–12. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.27434.
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  - Becker, Mara L., Carlos D. Rosé, Randy Q. Cron, David D. Sherry, Warren B. Bilker, and Ebbing Lautenbach. “Effectiveness and toxicity of methotrexate in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: comparison of 2 initial dosing regimens.” J Rheumatol 37, no. 4 (April 2010): 870–75. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.090826.
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  - Haandel, Leon van, Mara L. Becker, J Steven Leeder, Todd D. Williams, and John F. Stobaugh. “A novel high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for improved selective and sensitive measurement of methotrexate polyglutamation status in human red blood cells.” Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 23, no. 23 (December 2009): 3693–3702. https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.4300.
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  - Hinks, Anne, Anne Barton, Neil Shephard, Steve Eyre, John Bowes, Michele Cargill, Eric Wang, et al. “Identification of a novel susceptibility locus for juvenile idiopathic arthritis by genome-wide association analysis.” Arthritis Rheum 60, no. 1 (January 2009): 258–63. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.24179.
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  - Hinks, Anne, Xiayi Ke, Anne Barton, Steve Eyre, John Bowes, Jane Worthington, Susan D. Thompson, et al. “Association of the IL2RA/CD25 gene with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” Arthritis Rheum 60, no. 1 (January 2009): 251–57. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.24187.
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  - Becker, Mara L., Tammy M. Martin, Trudy M. Doyle, and Carlos D. Rosé. “Interstitial pneumonitis in Blau syndrome with documented mutation in CARD15.” Arthritis Rheum 56, no. 4 (April 2007): 1292–94. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.22509.
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  - Lamb, Rebecca, Wendy Thomson, Wendy British Society of Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, Emma M. Ogilvie, and Rachelle Donn. “Positive association of SLC26A2 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” Arthritis Rheum 56, no. 4 (April 2007): 1286–91. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.22444.
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  - Becker, Mara L., and Carlos D. Rose. “Blau syndrome and related genetic disorders causing childhood arthritis.” Curr Rheumatol Rep 7, no. 6 (December 2005): 427–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-005-0046-3.
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  - Becker, Mara, Carlos D. Rosé, and Gail McIlvain-Simpson. “Niacin-like reaction to infliximab infusion in systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.” J Rheumatol 31, no. 12 (December 2004): 2529–30.
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  - Zeggini, E., A. M. Reginato, A. Prais, W. Thomson, W. McLean, R. Donn, and R. BPRG Study Group. “Linkage and association studies of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in juvenile oligoarthritis.” Rheumatology (Oxford) 43, no. 9 (September 2004): 1138–41. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keh261.
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  - Donn, Rachelle, Zaynab Alourfi, Eleftheria Zeggini, Rebecca Lamb, Francine Jury, Mark Lunt, Christina Meazza, et al. “A functional promoter haplotype of macrophage migration inhibitory factor is linked and associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” Arthritis Rheum 50, no. 5 (May 2004): 1604–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.20178.
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  - De Benedetti, Fabrizio, Cristina Meazza, Marina Vivarelli, Federica Rossi, Angela Pistorio, Rebecca Lamb, Mark Lunt, et al. “Functional and prognostic relevance of the -173 polymorphism of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene in systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” Arthritis Rheum 48, no. 5 (May 2003): 1398–1407. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.10882.
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  - Zeggini, Eleftheria, Wendy Thomson, Dominic Kwiatkowski, Anna Richardson, William Ollier, Rachelle Donn, and Rachelle British Paediatric Rheumatology Study Group. “Linkage and association studies of single-nucleotide polymorphism-tagged tumor necrosis factor haplotypes in juvenile oligoarthritis.” Arthritis Rheum 46, no. 12 (December 2002): 3304–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.10698.
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  - Zeggini, Eleftheria, Rachelle P. Donn, William E. R. Ollier, Wendy Thomson, and Wendy British Paediatric Rheumatology Study Group. “Evidence for linkage of HLA loci in juvenile idiopathic oligoarthritis: independent effects of HLA-A and HLA-DRB1.” Arthritis Rheum 46, no. 10 (October 2002): 2716–20. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.10551.
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  - Donn, Rachelle, Zaynab Alourfi, Fabrizio De Benedetti, Cristina Meazza, Eleftheria Zeggini, Mark Lunt, Adam Stevens, et al. “Mutation screening of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene: positive association of a functional polymorphism of macrophage migration inhibitory factor with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” Arthritis Rheum 46, no. 9 (September 2002): 2402–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.10492.
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  - Donn, R. P., A. Farhan, A. Stevans, A. Ramanan, W. E. R. Ollier, W. Thomson, and W. British Paediatric Rheumatology Study Group. “Neuroendocrine gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” Rheumatology (Oxford) 41, no. 8 (August 2002): 930–36. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/41.8.930.
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  - Zeggini, E., W. Thomson, A. Alansari, W. Ollier, R. Donn, and R. British Paediatric Rheumatology Study Group. “Tumour necrosis factor receptor II polymorphism and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.” Rheumatology (Oxford) 41, no. 4 (April 2002): 462–65. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/41.4.462.
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  - Donn, Rachelle, Eleftheria Zeggini, Emma Shelley, William Ollier, Wendy Thomson, and Wendy British Paediatric Rheumatology Study Group. “Lack of association between juvenile idiopathic arthritis and fas gene polymorphism.” J Rheumatol 29, no. 1 (January 2002): 166–68.
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  - Becker, Mara. “Pharmacogenetics of oral antidiabetic drugs.,” n.d. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/686315.
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  - Becker, Mara. “May Thurner Syndrome.” Consultant for Pediatricians 8, no. 6 (n.d.): 236–37.
- Conference Papers
  - Bi, C., M. Becker, and S. Leeder. “Derivation of minimum best sample size from microarray data sets: A Monte Carlo approach.” In Ieee Ssci 2011 Symposium Series on Computational Intelligence Cibcb 2011: 2011 Ieee Symposium on Computational Intelligence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, 129–34, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1109/CIBCB.2011.5948461.
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