Award: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Biography: I am a combined pediatric and adult rheumatology fellow, dedicated to advancing both fields by examining shared and distinct immune mechanisms across age groups.
My research focuses on juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSpA) and its molecular mechanisms. I first developed an interest in autoimmune diseases during my high school research at National Jewish Health, investigating the role of the environmental microbiome in allergy development. This interest deepened during my residency and led to my first independent research project, exploring the influence of early antibiotic exposure on the development of spondyloarthritis in pediatric patients.
Currently, under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Paley, my research focuses on pathogenic CD8+ T cells in HLA-B27-positive JSpA. I aim to identify these T cells and understand their role in disease progression, with the goal of advancing our understanding of JSpA pathogenesis and developing potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment.
I hope to bridge the gap between pediatric and adult rheumatology while contributing to the growing body of research in JSpA, a condition that remains underexplored in juvenile idiopathic arthritis studies. My long-term goal is to conduct impactful translational research, providing insights into disease mechanisms that will improve the lives of patients facing delayed diagnoses and
limited treatment options.
Research Summary: Juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSpA) is a type of childhood arthritis (juvenile idiopathic arthritis) that causes pain and stiffness in joints and spine. Over time, it can lead to long-lasting pain and difficulty with normal movement even into adulthood. Diagnosing this disease early is challenging because there is no simple test to find it, contributing to delayed treatment and worse health outcomes. A gene called HLA-B27 makes it more likely for someone to get JSpA, but we don’t fully understand why some children with this gene get sick, while others stay healthy.
We believe that certain immune cells, called CD8+ T cells, play a key role in JSpA. In this study, we will examine these cells in children with JSpA and compare them to healthy family members who also have the same HLA-B27 gene. We will use a new technique that we created to detect these disease-causing cells. This will help us spot early warning signs of JSpA and tell the difference between children who have it and those who don’t. By finding a new way to diagnose JSpA earlier, we hope children can get treated sooner and feel better in the long run.
