Research is a major priority of the Division of Rheumatology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. 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.
Sytse Piersma, PhD
Instructor in Medicine
Research Interests: Improving immunotherapy through studying natural killer (NK) cells
Graduate School: University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands (2009-2011)
Fellowship: Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands (2009-2011)
Fellowship: Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (2011-2013)
Prabha Ranganathan, MD, MSCI
Professor of Medicine
Research Interests: Rheumatoid arthritis, epidemiology
Medical School: University of Madras, Madras, India (1990)
Residency: BJH/Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (1995)
Fellowship: Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (1999)
Elisha Roberson, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Research Interests: Genetic basis of hidradenitis suppurativa, other human diseases
Graduate School: John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland (2004-2009)
Deepali Sen, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Research Interests: Lupus, clinical trials
Medical School: Seth G. S. Medical College, University of Mumbai, India (2003)
Residency: King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India (2003)
Residency: Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, New Jersey (2010)
Xiaobo Wu, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Wayne Yokoyama, MD
Sam J. Levin and Audrey Loew Levin Professor of Medicine
Research Interests: Natural killer cells, innate lymphoid cells, autoimmunity