Research is a major priority of the Division of Rheumatology at WashU Medicine. Our laboratories are working to advance fundamental knowledge of human biology and disease, and our clinicians are conducting numerous clinical trials and epidemiological studies.
Ongoing basic and translational science efforts includes studies of complement, natural killer and other innate lymphoid cells, T-cell biology and mucosal immunology, chikungunya viral arthritis, lupus, innate and adaptive immunity, nanotherapies for rheumatoid arthritis, and human genetics. Clinical research efforts include clincial trials and epidemiological studies of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Sambhawana Bhandari, MBBS
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Medical School: Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Nepal
Residency: Danbury Hospital (Nuvance Health), Danbury, Connecticut
Fellowship: Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (2023-2025)
John P Atkinson, MD
Samuel B. Grant Professor of Medicine
Research Interests: Complement and RVCL Research
Medical School: Kansas University, Lawrence, Kansas (1969)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (1969-1971)
Fellowship: National Institutes of Health (1973-1974), NIH postdoctoral research fellowship, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (1974-1976)
Mohamed Babiker-Mohamed, MBBS
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Medical School: University of Khartoum Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum, Sudan
Residency: AMITA Health Saint Joseph Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
Fellowship: Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (2022-2024)
Colin Diffie, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Research interests: Vasculitis
Clinical interests: Vasculitis, rare diseases, arthritis
Medical School: Medical School at UT Houston, Houston, Texas (2014)
Residency: BJH/Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri (2017)
Fellowship: Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri (2017-2019)
Seth Eisen, MD, MSc
Professor Of Medicine
Research Interests:
Clinical Interests:
Medical School: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (1962-1966)
Residency: Resident, Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri (1972-1974)
Fellowship: USPHS Fellow in Allergy and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (1969-1972)
Graduate School: Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, Masters in Epidemiology, (1988-1989)
Chyi Hsieh, MD, PhD
Alan A and Edith L Wolff Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Research Interests: Autoimmunity, regulatory T cells, tolerance, and mucosal immunology
Medical School: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (1996)
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (1996-1999)
Fellowship: Rheumatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (1999-2001)
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (2001-2005)