The mission of NYU Langone’s Division of Rheumatology is to better understand the biology of inflammation and autoimmunity and to improve patient care and outcomes. We conduct basic, translational, and clinical research on a variety of rheumatic and autoimmune conditions, including lupus, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Evolving areas of investigation include Behcet’s syndrome, gout, antiphospholipid syndrome, pregnancy and rheumatic diseases, osteoporosis, and Sjogren’s syndrome. Our scientists are also studying inflammatory bowel disease–related enteropathic spondyloarthritis, inflammatory and rheumatic eye diseases, and immunotoxicity.

The division focuses on bench-to-bedside research, with our basic and translational scientific investigations often culminating in clinical trials. These trials, in turn, may result in new treatments or affect standards of care. Insights gleaned from laboratory data can help our physicians fine-tune medications and create personalized treatment protocols.

Notably, we conduct a variety of translational and clinical trials in rheumatic disease through the Seligman Center for Advanced Therapeutics. In addition, we perform groundbreaking multidisciplinary research in autoimmune disease at the Judith and Stewart Colton Center for Autoimmunity.

Our division has also established Specimen and Matched Phenotype Linked Evaluation (SAMPLE), a bioregistry of blood and tissue samples from our patients with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases. SAMPLE has enabled us to better integrate basic science research with patient care. Our researchers use SAMPLE to accurately describe specific patient subsets with heterogeneous conditions such as lupus, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis and better understand the biomarkers that allow identification of early disease and response to treatment. Our scientists draw upon data collected from patients at the NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue lupus clinic, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, and NYU Langone Orthopedic Center.

Another part of our division’s mission is to train new physician–scientists in rheumatology research. National Institutes of Health funding for the Division of Rheumatology, in the form of a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, helps predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees bridge the divide between basic research and clinical interventions.

Moreover, our postdoctoral trainees hone their research skills during a required Rheumatology Fellowship research project. Those interested in an academic career can pursue additional rheumatology research fellowship training.

Our researchers frequently publish their findings in major academic publications.

Our Research Leadership

Our researchers conduct a variety of basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiological studies in the following areas.

Behcet’s Syndrome and Inflammatory Eye Diseases

Johannes Nowatzky, MD
Yusuf Yazici, MD

Gout

Michael H. Pillinger, MD
Michael Toprover, MD

Inflammatory Disease Genetics

David B. Beck, MD, PhD

Lupus

H. Michael Belmont, MD
Jill P. Buyon, MD
Peter M. Izmirly, MD
Boris Reizis, PhD
Amit Saxena, MD
Gregg Silverman, MD

Osteoarthritis

Steven Abramson, MD
Mukundan G. Attur
Jonathan Samuels, MD

Pregnancy and Rheumatic Diseases

Jill P. Buyon, MD

Psoriatic Arthritis

Rebecca B. Blank, MD, PhD
Rebecca Haberman, MD
Soumya M. Reddy, MD
Jose U. Scher, MD

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Yamen Homsi, MD, MPH
Michael H. Pillinger, MD
Pamela Rosenthal, MD
Jonathan Samuels, MD
Gregg Silverman, MD