Marisa Klein-Gitelman, MD

Dr. Marisa Klein-Gitelman's research includes projects investigating health services and the economic burden of childhood rheumatic diseases. She is also involved in projects investigating pediatric lupus including:

• Evaluation of thinking processes at onset of lupus and potential damage over time.
• Participation in a NIH funded project to evaluate some of the possible genetic risk factors for lupus.
• Assessment of medical therapies of the treatment of lupus including drug delivery and metabolism.
• Assessment of tools to monitor pediatric lupus disease activity and damage.
• Assessment of potential markers that detect the onset of disease activity

Lauren Pachman, MD

Dr. Lauren Pachman's research interests center on the regulation of the immune response, both in children with vascular involvement and rheumatic disease. Her specific focus is the study of factors affecting the onset and course of the most common pediatric inflammatory myopathy, juvenile dermatomyositis. This focus is implemented by both a national NIH funded study of the epidemiology of JDM (JDM - New Onset Juvenile Dermatomyositis Research Registry) and a NIAMS sponsored laboratory based investigation of genetic and immunological factors that may be associated with a short vs. a long disease course. The course of the disease is altered by therapy; prednisone and other steroids are the primary drugs now used to treat pediatric vascular inflammation.

Another study reviews data provided by children admitted to the Clinical Research Center (no patient charges for study) concerning the way that vascular inflammation alters the absorption and metabolism of prednisone when the drug is given by mouth as compared to intravenous administration. In addition, other new biological agents are under investigation for their effect on JDM and other pediatric rheumatic diseases.

Michael Miller, MD

Dr. Michael Miller's research interests include health status and drug treatment of children with arthritis and related conditions. Dr. Miller is characterizing the extent of problems in different areas of health status, determining which problems are unique to arthritis patients, and which problems are a result of chronic illness in general. Such research will be increasingly important in justifying the need for special health services for children with chronic illness. Dr. Miller also coordinates and participates in studies of new drugs for treating children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.