To ultimately cure or prevent rheumatoid arthritis, it is critical to understand the earliest changes in the immune system that cause RA. Starting from a genome-wide expression profiling approach, this research will delineate the role of stromal cells in bone marrow, lymph node and synovial tissue in arthritis development. Results from these studies will provide innovative drug targets for preventive intervention in pre-clinical RA and identify the immunological processes that initiate RA and possibly other related chronic inflammatory diseases. In addition, molecular profiling of biomaterials is used to identify biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment response.

Genomics; Immunology; Translational Research; Celbiology; Rheumatology; Stromal cells; Autoimmunity; Tolerance