Lupus Program

Lupus Program

  • About
  • Approach
  • Appointments
  • Research

    • The Lupus Program at U-M Health provides world-class care to patients with lupus. Our center is designed to provide expert care for patient with lupus, with access to the latest treatments and clinical trials.

    Our Approach

    Our team of rheumatologists, nephrologists, pulmonologists, hematologists, dermatologists, and high-risk obstetricians and gynecologists provide comprehensive care for all lupus patients.

     

    Appointment Information

    Patients can schedule an appointment by calling 888-229-3065.

    Research

    The University of Michigan Lupus Research Group is dedicated to learning more about what causes lupus, how flares can be reduced or prevented, how to predict disease progression and activity, and how to prevent permanent organ damage. By learning more about the development of and risk factors for lupus it may be a step towards finding new prevention and treatment strategies.

    Basic Research

    The Michigan Medicine Lupus Program has a strong program in basic science research. Areas of research include:

    • Identifying genetic and epigenetic abnormalities in lupus patients that predispose them to the disease
    • T cell abnormalities in lupus
    • Abnormal cell death and the development of lupus
    • Abnormalities in the interactions of different cells of the immune system that might predispose lupus patients to the disease
    • Mechanisms by which lupus patients develop accelerated heart disease
    • Mechanisms of kidney damage in lupus
    • Role of dendritic cells and neutrophils in lupus
    • Abnormal signal transduction in lupus cells
         Clinical Trials

    Clinical trials are a type of research study design to test new treatments or diagnostic tests in those affected by a specific disease or condition. They help achieve a better understanding of the disease that is being investigated and determine the effectiveness and safety of new treatments.

    Our group actively participates in different clinical trials giving our patients the opportunity to receive promising new treatments or participate in new diagnostic procedures. Participation is completely voluntary.

         Faculty Publications
    • Nada Abdulaziz, MBBS - PubMed
    • J. Michelle Kahlenberg, MD, PhD - PubMed
    • Jason Knight, MD, PhD- PubMed
    • Wendy Marder, MD - PubMed
    • W. Joseph McCune, MD - PubMed
    • Emily Somers, PhD, ScM - PubMed
    • Amber Young, MD - PubMed

    News & Stories
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    Health Lab

    Pain, psychological factors and physical function closely linked in people with systemic sclerosis

    For many people living with chronic conditions like systemic sclerosis, pain can be persistent, unpredictable, and difficult to manage leading to a strong impact on a patient’s mental health.
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    Health Lab

    Rheumatologist finds contentment and community through family farm

    A U-M rheumatologist finds contentment and community through family farming.
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    Health Lab

    Rethinking how clinicians learn to feel disease

    For most doctors, learning to recognize swollen joints begins in the classroom. A clinical assistant professor in Michigan Medicine's Division of Rheumatology saw a gap in how to distinguish subtle swelling in joints, thus creating a hand simulator to help.
         Ibtissam Gad performs a demo of her hand model with an HPE Connect '26 attendee.
    Department News

    Helping Hands: Ibtissam Gad Is Rethinking How Clinicians Learn to Feel Disease

    For most physicians, learning to recognize swollen joints begins in the classroom. Students study anatomy, learn examination techniques, observe experienced clinicians, and gradually gain experience examining patients during medical school and residency. For Ibtissam Gad, MD, a clinical assistant professor in Michigan Medicine's Division of Rheumatology, one limitation stood out. Learners often had relatively few opportunities to practice distinguishing subtle swelling by touch, and asking patients whose joints were already painful to undergo repeated examinations wasn't ideal for anyone involved.
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    The Fundamentals

    The Future of Cell and Gene Therapies

    On this episode of The Fundamentals, we talked to physician scientist, Dr. Monalisa Ghosh, assistant professor of medical oncology and internal medicine, who is looking to expand CAR-T's application from cancer to autoimmune disorders and beyond.
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    Health Lab

    Single-cell RNA sequencing gives insight to dermatomyositis treatment

    Comparing skin lesions in dermatomyositis and lupus using single-cell RNA sequencing gives rheumatology researchers at University of Michigan Health new insight into treatment targets for dermatomyositis patients.