CAMRC
Home Page The primary research interest has been the evaluation of biological therapies (and their mechanisms) which are targeted at the disease process in rheumatoid arthritis. In this regard several pivotal studies (from Phase I to III) have been performed at UAB evaluating such agents as anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, interleukin-1 inhibitors as potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The first biological agent approved by the U.S. FDA was etanercept, a TNF inhibitor first evaluated in arthritis patients by Dr. Moreland at UAB. Current research efforts in rheumatoid arthritis include ways to include tolerance as a potential therapy for RA. In addition, current studies are focused on evaluating genetic factors that predict response (or lack thereof) to TNF inhibitors in RA patients.
Other
areas of research interest have been, and continue to be, potential biological
therapies for scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and
osteoarthritis. At present, relaxin
and CTLA4-Ig are potential new therapies for scleroderma and SLE, respectively.
Another area of investigation continues to be the research utilities of outpatient arthroscopy as a tool to better understand the mechanisms of disease in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
2001-present Associate
Dean of Medicine for Clinical Research
2000-present American Society for Clinical Investigation, member
1999-present Professor of Medicine
1998-present Vice Chairman for Clinical Research, Department of Medicine
1998-present Director,
NIH-funded Pittman General Clinical Research Center
1998-present Principal Investigator of NIH-funded K30 Training Grant, UAB
1989-present Director, Arthritis Clinical Intervention Program
1994-1999
Associate Professor of Medicine
1991-1994
Assistant Professor of Medicine
1990-1991 Instructor in Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, UAB
1987-1990 Associate in Medicine (Fellowship), Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, UAB
1986-1987 Assistant Professor of Medicine, Chief Medical Resident, WVU
Senior Scientist, Multipurpose Arthritis Center
Senior Scientist, Center for Aging
Senior Scientist, Cell Adhesion and Matrix Research Center
Senior Scientist, Center for Metabolic Bone Disease
Senior Scientist, Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education