1. Dr. Eric Matteson

• Affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

• Specialties: Rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, and connective tissue diseases

• Contributions: Dr. Matteson has published extensively on rheumatic diseases and has contributed to advancing treatment strategies for inflammatory conditions.

2. Dr. Joan Merrill

• Affiliation: Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation

• Specialties: Lupus and autoimmune disorders

• Contributions: A leading researcher in lupus treatment, Dr. Merrill has conducted groundbreaking studies on immunosuppressive therapies and biologics.

3. Dr. Richard Brasington

• Affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

• Specialties: Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory arthritis

• Contributions: A prominent educator and researcher, Dr. Brasington has played a vital role in developing clinical guidelines for arthritis management.

4. Dr. Daniel Solomon

• Affiliation: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School

• Specialties: Rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular risks in autoimmune diseases

• Contributions: Dr. Solomon’s research focuses on the intersection of rheumatology and cardiology, improving the understanding of heart risks in autoimmune patients.

5. Dr. Gary S. Firestein

• Affiliation: University of California, San Diego

• Specialties: Inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune diseases

• Contributions: Dr. Firestein is known for his pioneering research in understanding the molecular mechanisms of arthritis, leading to improved therapies.

6. Dr. Ellen M. Gravallese

• Affiliation: UMass Chan Medical School

• Specialties: Autoimmune arthritis and bone loss in rheumatic diseases

• Contributions: Dr. Gravallese has been instrumental in studying how inflammation affects bone health, leading to new treatment approaches.

7. Dr. Michael Weisman

• Affiliation: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

• Specialties: Ankylosing spondylitis and systemic autoimmune diseases

• Contributions: Dr. Weisman has led clinical trials exploring genetic factors and treatment responses in spondyloarthritis.

8. Dr. Peter Lipsky

• Affiliation: Formerly at the NIH and private research institutions

• Specialties: Autoimmune diseases and biologic therapies

• Contributions: A key figure in the development of biologic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis, Dr. Lipsky has significantly influenced modern rheumatology treatments.

9. Dr. John O’Shea

• Affiliation: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

• Specialties: Immunology and inflammatory diseases

• Contributions: Dr. O’Shea has made critical discoveries in immune signaling pathways, leading to targeted treatments for autoimmune conditions.

10. Dr. Vivian Bykerk

• Affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York

• Specialties: Early rheumatoid arthritis and disease-modifying treatments

• Contributions: Dr. Bykerk’s work focuses on early intervention strategies to prevent long-term joint damage in arthritis patients.