Dear Colleagues:
In this issue of the Penn Rheumatology Newsletter we highlight two highly innovative programs that integrate multidisciplinary expert care with cutting-edge clinical and translational research to study two different rare diseases: relapsing polychondritis (RP) and Retinal Vasculopathy with Cerebral Leukoencephalopathy (RVCL). The Penn Relapsing Polychondritis Program, led by Shubhasree Banerjee, MD, has nearly 100 patients with this complex disease under clinical care and research observation. The Penn RVCL Program, led by Jonathan Miner, MD, PhD, takes care of the largest cohort of patients with this rare disease caused by a single gene mutation. Both programs have as goals not only greatly advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology of these often devastating diseases, but also developing novel therapies that will lead to much better outcomes for our patients. Read more about each of these programs here:
We also introduce you to Ian Cooley, MD, MS, our newest faculty member, and provide links to the many open clinical trials across the full spectrum of rheumatology being conducted by Penn Rheumatology, often with Penn faculty members leading the trials. Learn more about some of our active clinical trials.
Penn Rheumatology is always happy to be a resource for evaluation and co-management of patients with complex rheumatic disease or diagnostic dilemmas.
Sincerely,
Peter A. Merkel, MD, MPH
Chief, Division of Rheumatology
University of Pennsylvania