In the News
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Jennifer Anolik Awarded RO1 to Study Role of T-bet B Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Saturday, December 30, 2023
The lab of Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD focuses on the identification of pathogenic B cell subsets in RA and recently identified a subset of B cells expressing the classic T cell lineage defining transcription factor T-bet enriched in the RA synovium. Dr. Anolik has been awarded a NIH NIAID RO1 grant to study the role of these cells in mediating B cell-driven bone activation of osteoclasts, inhibition of osteoblasts, and promotion of pro-inflammatory monocytes.
Study from Jennifer Anolik and Team: Building a 'Cellular Atlas' for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
New research from Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD, Javier Rangel-Moreno, PhD and Darren Tabechian, MD along with several URMC and national/international collaborators, recently published in the journal Nature, deconstructed more than 314,000 cells into six major subtypes. In building this comprehensive atlas, understanding cell types and pathways, researchers can now use this knowledge in precision medicine, developing specific, individualized therapies. This work was funded by an NIH Network grant awarded to Anolik and team in 2014 that informed a new $10 million NIH grant for the Accelerating Medicines Partnership®: Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Diseases (AMP AIM) program in 2022.
Dr. Anitha Shrikhande Awarded an Allergy Action Award
Friday, November 3, 2023
Anitha Shrikhande, MD, MPH has been awarded an Allergy Action Award by the Allergy Advocacy Association for the impact her clinical work and research has had in the community.
URMC Internal Medicine Programs Names Dr. Jessica Stern Assistant Program Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Thursday, July 6, 2023
Jessica Stern, MD has accepted the role of Assistant Program Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the URMC internal medicine residency program. In this role, she’ll help support and mentor residents and guide program efforts in promoting a safe, equitable and inclusive clinical learning environment.
Drs. Anandarajah and Kleiner Contribute to ACR Guidelines for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Friday, June 23, 2023
Allen Anandarajah, MBBS and Anatole Kleiner, MD are contributing authors in the article, “2022 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for Exercise, Rehabilitation, Diet, and Additional Integrative Interventions for Rheumatoid Arthritis” published in the journal, Arthritis and Rheumatism.
Read the article.
Dr. Christopher Ritchlin Interviewed about Psoriatic Arthritis Medication Study
Friday, June 9, 2023
Christopher Ritchlin, MD, MPH, professor of medicine in Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology, gave an interview for the article "Good News on Guselkumab – Drug improved PsA through 1-year mark, even in those who previously took TNFis," published in MedPage Today.
Read the full article.
Dr. Jennifer Anolik Receives Lupus Research Alliance Grant
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD, has received funding through the Lupus Mechanisms and Targets Award from the Lupus Research Alliance. The award is granted to those who have proposed research projects that will explore new potential treatment approaches to prevent lupus from developing, or slow down disease progression. The project’s co-Principal Investigator is Javier Rangel-Moreno, PhD.
The Lupus Mechanisms and Targets Award is for research that focuses on investigating molecular pathways or targets leading to the development of new or improved therapies for patients with cutaneous and systemic lupus erythematosus. The award is for $600,000 over three years.
Anolik’s project will investigate if sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors—a class of drugs approved to treat type 2 diabetes and associated kidney disease—can improve outcomes in lupus nephritis, which is inflammation in the kidneys caused by lupus that affects 40 to 70 percent of lupus patients. Current treatment approaches target inflammation with little impact on fibrosis and injury. Anolik will study mice with lupus nephritis to see if SGLT2 inhibitors reduce kidney hypoxia, inflammatory CD8 T cells, and kidney injury. She will also begin to investigate the effects of treatment with SGLT2i on clinical outcomes and pathogenic CD8 T cells in the blood and urine of patients with lupus nephritis.
“Kidney failure is a major complication for lupus patients,” said Anolik. “We hope that SGLT2 inhibitors will eventually be a new strategy to help prevent this.”
One of Anolik’s lupus patients was in need of a new kidney, then learned she needed a new heart at the same time. This patient underwent a rare dual-organ transplant, and is now thriving thanks to a multi-departmental collaboration.
Dual-Organ Transplant at Strong Memorial Hospital Saves Young Woman
Sunday, April 9, 2023
A Chili mother is recovering from life-saving, heart-kidney transplant surgeries following a massive effort at UR Medicine's Strong Memorial Hospital.
The Oct. 28 transplant surgeries ended a decade of illness, with doctors’ visits, medication, and other treatments to combat the deterioration of her kidney and heart. Ashley Cuylear, 32, had been diagnosed with lupus nephritis at just 22 years old.
“It was pretty dramatic because the disease was severely affecting the kidneys,” said Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD, a rheumatologist who also leads a busy team of scientists studying the disease.
Read the full story.
Dr. Emily Weis Speaks to Channel 8 About Seasonal Allergies in Rochester
Thursday, March 30, 2023
With allergy season approaching, Emily Weis, MD, MS recently shared some tips for allergy sufferers with Channel 8’s Jatyra March. Watch here.
Faculty and Fellows from Allergy Present Their Work at AAAAI 23
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) held its annual conference last month in San Antonio. The academy can boast of more than 7,000 allergists and immunologists across 74 countries, many of whom convened for the meeting to share research, best practices, and resources in their field.
Several URMC faculty and fellows flew down to share their work and participate in sessions.
“The conference is a great way to reconnect with colleagues in person and exchange ideas about developments in the field,” said Jessica Stern, MD. She was able to highlight collaborative work on improving health inequities in allergic disease. She is working on the national and local level to encourage all learners and faculty to use an equity lens in their work. At the AAAAI meeting different forums and styles were used to deliver this information in an engaging and accessible way.
Dr. Allen Anandarajah Publishes Article on Importance of Participation of Minorities in Clinical Trials
Friday, February 17, 2023
Allen Anandarajah, MD, MSc recently published “Education the Clinician: Importance of Black Participants in Lupus Clinical Trials,” where he outlined the importance of minority inclusion in clinical trials to achieve improved outcomes in patient care. His article was published in Rheumatology Advisor and can be read here.
Drs. Rosario and Stern Publish Findings on Penicillin Allergy Delabeling
Friday, February 17, 2023
Cheryl Rozario, DO and Jessica Stern, MD, MS recently published their findings on the removal of a penicillin allergy label by practitioners other than allergists in their article, “Outcomes of penicillin allergy delabeling by non-allergy specialist at an academic medical center,” that was published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Read the article.