Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases

The Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases seeks the cure for a diverse group of immunological and inflammatory diseases that affect a wide range of organ systems. Although the cause of many of these illnesses is unknown, many share some form of immunopathology that leads to uncontrolled inflammation, pain, disability, and often tissue destruction.

Ongoing basic, translational, and clinical research in this division is leading to an even greater understanding of systemic autoimmunity that leads to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome and polymyositis/dermatomyositis, as well as select tissue-specific autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes mellitus.

Physician and scientist educators in this Division are training the next generation of biomedical researchers, rheumatology practitioners, and academic physicians, to meet the growing health care needs of the 21st century.

Clinicians in this Division are also available for inpatient and outpatient Rheumatology Consultation in multiple MHealth-Fairview outpatient clinics, including the Maple Grove and Southdale/Edina sites.

We appreciate your visit to our website, and encourage you to join us in this great effort!

Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma affect millions of people. The numbers are growing and there is no cure. It’s time to think bigger.

For decades, researchers from around the world have attacked rheumatic and autoimmune diseases one by one, symptom by symptom. It’s slow and grueling work.

In the Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases Division at the University of Minnesota, we think there’s a better way. We understand that diverse autoimmune diseases like lupus, multiple sclerosis, and even Type I diabetes share important characteristics in their biology and genetics.

And we believe that when we deeply understand the common themes that connect these diseases, we can work together to develop far more powerful treatments and ultimately, cures.

By understanding the specific drivers of autoimmune diseases, we have the opportunity to treat the diseases more effectively. And we can customize diagnoses and treatments to a person’s specific immune system problem. You can help us get there.