Research

Rheumatology Research

At a time when many pediatric hospitals are unable to offer even a single full-time pediatric rheumatologist, the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC has established one of the largest and most comprehensive pediatric rheumatology programs in the United States. Leading physicians in pediatric rheumatology have committed themselves to finding the causes and cures for pediatric rheumatic diseases.

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Researchers are focusing on understanding the inflammatory response in arthritis which will improve the safety and effectiveness of new protein-based drugs that show promise in relieving joint inflammation among children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic rheumatic diseases, such as lupus, dermatomyositis, and joint and muscle pain.

Children’s rheumatology scientists work closely with the pharmaceutical industry and with the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Network to test and validate novel therapeutic approaches for children with rheumatic diseases. In addition, funding has been received from both the Arthritis foundation, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including an NIH training grant to train the next generation of pediatric rheumatologists.

Division laboratories are located in the John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, the hospital’s dedicated research facility. Faculty scientists are joined in their work with a highly-skilled and experienced research team that includes a laboratory manager, research associates and post-doctoral research fellows and graduate students. The medical and research faculty at Children’s Hospital comprise the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, recognized as one of the leading biomedical institutions in the nation.

As one of the foremost programs devoted to children with rheumatic diseases in the United States, Children’s Rheumatology Research Laboratory has emerged as a leader in autoimmunity research and the study of innovative therapies for arthritis.

Learn more about our basic research.

Learn more about our clinical studies.