In the News
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Jennifer Anolik Awarded RO1 to Study Role of T-bet B Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Saturday, December 30, 2023
The lab of Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD focuses on the identification of pathogenic B cell subsets in RA and recently identified a subset of B cells expressing the classic T cell lineage defining transcription factor T-bet enriched in the RA synovium. Dr. Anolik has been awarded a NIH NIAID RO1 grant to study the role of these cells in mediating B cell-driven bone activation of osteoclasts, inhibition of osteoblasts, and promotion of pro-inflammatory monocytes.
Study from Jennifer Anolik and Team: Building a 'Cellular Atlas' for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
New research from Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD, Javier Rangel-Moreno, PhD and Darren Tabechian, MD along with several URMC and national/international collaborators, recently published in the journal Nature, deconstructed more than 314,000 cells into six major subtypes. In building this comprehensive atlas, understanding cell types and pathways, researchers can now use this knowledge in precision medicine, developing specific, individualized therapies. This work was funded by an NIH Network grant awarded to Anolik and team in 2014 that informed a new $10 million NIH grant for the Accelerating Medicines Partnership®: Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases (AMP AIM) program in 2022.
AIR Research Presented at National Meeting
Friday, November 17, 2023
The AIR Division was well represented at the American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2023 meeting held in San Diego, CA this month. The meetings highlight the most current research findings as they relate to Allergy/Immunology and Rheumatology respectively. Faculty and presented their research through numerous posters, oral presentations and conferences.
Dr. Anandarajah Receives Continued Funding From the American College of Rheumatology
Friday, November 17, 2023
Allen Anandarajah, MBBS received continued funding for the "TIMELY Project: Training to Increase Minority Enrollment in Lupus Clinical Trials with Community Engagement." Read the American College of Rheumatology press release to learn more.
Drs. Anolik, Rangel-Moreno, and Tabechian Publish Findings on Inflammatory Subtypes in RA Synovium
Friday, November 10, 2023
Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD, Javier-Rangel-Moreno, PhD, and Darren Tabechian, MD and colleagues from the Accelerating Medicines Partnership, recently published their findings in an article entitled, “Deconstruction of Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovium Defines Inflammatory Subtypes” in the journal Nature. Their work reveals new insights that could lead to new targeted treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. Read the article.
Dr. Anitha Shrikhande Awarded an Allergy Action Award
Friday, November 3, 2023
Anitha Shrikhande, MD, MPH has been awarded an Allergy Action Award by the Allergy Advocacy Association for the impact her clinical work and research has had in the community.
Dr. Christopher Palma and Colleagues From the ACTV-1 IM Study Group Publish COVID-19 Pneumonia Treatment Findings
Friday, September 1, 2023
The ACTIV-1 IM Study Group, of which Christopher Palma, MD, ScM is a member, published the article, “Abatacept, Cenicriviroc, or Infliximab for Treatment of Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” in JAMA. The study looked at outcomes in COVID-19 pneumonia with the addition of each of these agents to standard care. Read the article.
Drs. Weis and Bingemann Publish Findings on Emergency Room Prescriptions for Epinephrine Autoinjectors in Anaphylaxis
Friday, August 25, 2023
Emily Weis, MD, MS and Theresa Bingemann, MD were among the authors of “Epinephrine autoinjector prescribing following anaphylaxis presentation to the emergency department” recently published in Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. Read the article.
Dr. Rangel-Moreno Guest Speaker at the National School of Biological Sciences in Mexico City
Friday, July 28, 2023
Javier Rangel-Moreno, PhD participated as a guest speaker in the plenary session of the “1st Meeting of Students and Graduates of the Immunology Program” at the National School of Biological Sciences in Mexico City on July 6th, 2023. The subject and title of his presentation was “Therapeutic Potential of Selective Inhibitors of Nuclear Export in Lupus.”
Dr. Maria De La Luz Garcia-Hernandez Recieves Translational Science Award
Friday, July 14, 2023
Maria De La Luz Garcia-Hernandez, Ph.D. received the Translational Science Award from the National Psoriasis Foundation. She developed a humanized mouse model of psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis, and this award will further fund her work in developing novel disease pathways in autoimmune disorders.
Dr. Christopher Ritchlin Interviewed about Psoriatic Arthritis Medication Study
Friday, June 9, 2023
Christopher Ritchlin, MD, MPH, professor of medicine in Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology, gave an interview for the article "Good News on Guselkumab – Drug improved PsA through 1-year mark, even in those who previously took TNFis," published in MedPage Today.
Read the full article.
Dr. Jennifer Anolik Receives Lupus Research Alliance Grant
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD, has received funding through the Lupus Mechanisms and Targets Award from the Lupus Research Alliance. The award is granted to those who have proposed research projects that will explore new potential treatment approaches to prevent lupus from developing, or slow down disease progression. The project’s co-Principal Investigator is Javier Rangel-Moreno, PhD.
The Lupus Mechanisms and Targets Award is for research that focuses on investigating molecular pathways or targets leading to the development of new or improved therapies for patients with cutaneous and systemic lupus erythematosus. The award is for $600,000 over three years.
Anolik’s project will investigate if sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors—a class of drugs approved to treat type 2 diabetes and associated kidney disease—can improve outcomes in lupus nephritis, which is inflammation in the kidneys caused by lupus that affects 40 to 70 percent of lupus patients. Current treatment approaches target inflammation with little impact on fibrosis and injury. Anolik will study mice with lupus nephritis to see if SGLT2 inhibitors reduce kidney hypoxia, inflammatory CD8 T cells, and kidney injury. She will also begin to investigate the effects of treatment with SGLT2i on clinical outcomes and pathogenic CD8 T cells in the blood and urine of patients with lupus nephritis.
“Kidney failure is a major complication for lupus patients,” said Anolik. “We hope that SGLT2 inhibitors will eventually be a new strategy to help prevent this.”
One of Anolik’s lupus patients was in need of a new kidney, then learned she needed a new heart at the same time. This patient underwent a rare dual-organ transplant, and is now thriving thanks to a multi-departmental collaboration.
Faculty and Fellows from Allergy Present Their Work at AAAAI 23
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) held its annual conference last month in San Antonio. The academy can boast of more than 7,000 allergists and immunologists across 74 countries, many of whom convened for the meeting to share research, best practices, and resources in their field.
Several URMC faculty and fellows flew down to share their work and participate in sessions.
“The conference is a great way to reconnect with colleagues in person and exchange ideas about developments in the field,” said Jessica Stern, MD. She was able to highlight collaborative work on improving health inequities in allergic disease. She is working on the national and local level to encourage all learners and faculty to use an equity lens in their work. At the AAAAI meeting different forums and styles were used to deliver this information in an engaging and accessible way.
Drs. Anolik and Rangel-Moreno Receive Lupus Research Funding from the Lupus Research Alliance
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD and Javier Rangel-Moreno, PhD have received funding for their project "SGLT2 Inhibition as a Novel Treatment for Lupus Nephritis,” from the Lupus Research Alliance. Drs. Anolik and Rangel-Moreno will study mice with lupus nephritis to see if SGLT2 inhibitors reduce kidney hypoxia, inflammatory CD8 T cells, and kidney injury.