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Research Day facilitates dialogue and collaborations among basic, translational and clinical investigators. Approximately 90 researchers, clinicians, research staff and trainees gathered recently to discuss innovative ways to move research forward in areas including arthritis, allergy, and autoimmune diseases.


Research Day facilitates dialogue and collaborations among basic, translational and clinical investigators. Approximately 90 researchers, clinicians, research staff and trainees gathered recently to discuss innovative ways to move research forward in areas including arthritis, allergy, and autoimmune diseases.

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Of particular interest was keynote speaker S. Lou Bridges, MD, PhD, who is Director of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Bridges discussed, “Rheumatoid Arthritis in African Americans: Insights from the CLEAR Registry.”

Just a few examples of topics discussed in the 40+ talks, presentations and posters at the TARC Research Day included:

  • New osteoarthritis insights gleaned from ongoing research efforts at the Johnston County Project as well as the Johnston County Health Study, including incidence, prevalence and progression of foot osteoarthritis
  • Updates focused on the rapidly emerging and expanding, yet poorly understood “Alpha-gal” meat allergy
  • Exploring social motivation for physical activity among Latinas with osteoarthritis
  • Venous thromboembolism in lupus nephritis
  • Lysosome defects in SLE promote the accumulation of nuclear antigens on the surface of hematopoietic cells.
  • Associations of socioeconomic status with rheumatoid arthritis with rheumatoid arthritis progression in African Americans with early disease
  • In-home, dose-related adverse events during peanut sublingual immunotherapy
  • Proactive penicillin allergy testing during pregnancy

Further information about the topics presented can be found here.

The UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center would like to extend a very special thanks to our Research Day sponsor, Leigh Thurston Meyers, who’s generous support made the program possible.