October 2023

RHEUMATOLOGY

CLINICAL TRIALS IN SCLERODERMA


​​Featuring: Carrie Richardson, MD, Jane Dematte D'Amico, MD, ​Alexander Misharin, MD, PhD, Sanjiv Shah, MD, David Cella, PhD
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The Northwestern Medicine Scleroderma Program is currently caring for 1,000 patients with scleroderma. Led by Carrie Richardson, MD, and Jane Dematte D'Amico, MD, the program includes research collaborations across multiple medical disciplines to help us better understand this complex disease. Learn about these clinical trials below.
 
Alexander Misharin, MD, PhD, is collaborating with Abbvie on studies of lung disease in scleroderma. The investigators are applying artificial intelligence algorithms to electronic health records data and lung fluid samples to identify hidden risk factors for scleroderma lung disease.  The goal of this study is to develop a personalized “early warning system” for lung disease in people with scleroderma.
 
The Sclerodoma Program is also working with Sanjiv Shah, MD, of Northwestern Medicine Cardiology, to study pulmonary hypertension in scleroderma. The study uses exercise echocardiography and molecular analysis of the blood to uncover the specific immune cells and molecular signals that are responsible for heart muscle problems in people with scleroderma.
 
David Cella, PhD, director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Patient-Centered Outcomes at the Institute for Public Health and Medicine, is conducting qualitative research to assess patients’ experiences of living with scleroderma. The study aims to understand factors important to people with scleroderma to better assess how a potential medication works.  ​

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