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Rebecca Eli Sadun

Associate Professor of Medicine
Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology

Research Interests


My primary areas of research interest include:

Systemic lupus erythematosus - mechanistic (B cell biology), translational (personalized medicine), and outcomes
Vaccines in rheumatology - translational (immunogenicity) and clinical (guidelines)
Lupus nephritis - outcomes
Pediatric rheumatic disease - outcomes
Macrophage activation syndrome - outcomes
Patient physician communication - PROs and medical education research
Transition to adult care - educational interventions
Medication adherence - PROs and behavioral economics
Narrative medicine

Selected Grants


Duke Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Training Award/Paula de Merieux Fellowship Training Award

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Rheumatology Research Foundation · 2024 - 2027

Arthritis Foundation Clinical Rheumatology Fellowship

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Arthritis Foundation · 2023 - 2026

Duke Combined Medicine/Pediatrics Fellowship

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Arthritis Foundation · 2022 - 2026

Arthritis Foundation - DEI

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by Arthritis Foundation · 2022 - 2025

Immunogenicity and risk of autoimmune cross-reactivity of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in SLE - RRF Investigator Award

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Rheumatology Research Foundation · 2022 - 2025

Arthritis Foundation Fellowship Training Grant 2019

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Arthritis Foundation · 2020 - 2024

ACV01P - Cost Reimbursable

Clinical TrialCo Investigator · Awarded by Emory University · 2022 - 2024

ACE Covid 19 Admin. Supplement: Molecular Regulation of B cells and T cells in Human SLE - Cost Reimbursable

Clinical TrialCo Investigator · Awarded by Emory University · 2021 - 2024

ACR/Amgen Rheumatology Fellowship Training Award

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Rheumatology Research Foundation · 2022 - 2023

Identifying Cross-Registry Commonalities to Facilitate International Pediatric Lupus Research

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance, Inc. · 2021 - 2023

Clinician Scholar Educator Award

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Rheumatology Research Foundation · 2018 - 2022

CARRA Registry Associates

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance, Inc. · 2021 - 2022

HVTN Phase 1 Protocol Funding

Clinical TrialInvestigator · Awarded by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center · 2018 - 2020

Fellowships, Gifts, and Supported Research


Investigator Award · 2022 - 2025 Awarded by: Rheumatology Research Foundation
Clinician Scholar Educator Award · 2018 - 2021 Awarded by: Rheumatology Research Foundation

External Relationships


  • American College of Rheumatology
  • Expert Witnessing
  • Honoraria for talks at universities (USC, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, HSS) and rheumatology association meetings (ACR, NCRA, RAL, MARS, MRS)
  • Rheumatology Research Foundation

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies, institutions, or organizations listed above. This information is available to institutional leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.