Category: Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology
UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center Hosts the 2023 “Carolinas Fellows Collaborative” Winter Symposium
Twenty-five rheumatology fellows from UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, Medical University of South Carolina, and Massachusetts General Hospital participated at the 3-day meeting. Educational sessions consisted of a series of seminars, workshops, and a Rheumatology Observed Structured Clinical Exam (ROSCE). The Carolinas Fellows Collaborative is a biannual meeting with the summer gathering … Read more
Dr. Richard Loeser Receives $2 Million NIH Grant to Study “Oxidative Stress and the Development of Osteoarthritis”
The grant is a 5-year renewal of existing research funded by the National Institute of Aging. The overall goal of the research project is to understand the mechanisms by which oxidative stress governs development and maintenance of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype in articular joints. Dr. Loeser is Director of the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center, and is the Jo … Read more
Novel Peanut Allergy Treatment Shown to be Safe, Effective, and Lasting
A four-year clinical trial led by Edwin Kim, MD, associate professor of medicine and pediatrics, has found that an increased dosage of a unique type of peanut allergy immunotherapy continues to show promise for children.
Welcome New Administrative Leadership
As the calendar year comes to a close, the Department of Medicine has much to celebrate. Congrats to the following individuals who are beginning new administrative positions with the Department. Their expertise and enthusiasm will help us excel in 2023. While others are moving along in their career journey, we are thankful for their contributions and wish them the best in their f … Read more
2023 Fellows Match to the Department of Medicine
The Department of Medicine is honored to welcome new Tar Heel trainees! The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) released results for the 2022 Medicine and Pediatric Specialties Match on November 30. This is the first year the organization’s largest Fellowship Match included subspecialties in internal medicine, pediatrics, addiction and multidisciplinary specialties. More th … Read more
Dr. Saira Sheikh is Elected to American College of Rheumatology (ACR’s) Board of Directors
In addition to joining the ACR’s governing body, Dr. Sheikh has been appointed to serve as the ACR Board of Directors liaison to the Collaborative Initiatives Department (COIN). The COIN department highlights rheumatology’s relevance to the healthcare community and public by using rheumatic diseases as case studies for treating complex disease, advancing health equity, eliminatin … Read more
Department of Medicine Grants & Funding: November 1 – November 30, 2022
Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology Mildred Kwan, MD, PhD, and team received a Pfizer grant to address health disparities in antimicrobial stewardship. Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine Scott Randell, PhD, was awarded a $2 million grant titled, “Validation of the RD-X19 COVID Treatment Device toward Regulatory Approval and Commercialization.”
Using Collaboration to Fight a Tricky Tick-Borne Disease
Alpha-Gal Syndrome, or AGS, is a recently identified tick-borne disease that triggers an allergy to red meat and other products made from mammals, including cheese, gelatin, and medications like heparin. Since its discovery in 2009, cases in the United States alone have risen from 24 to >40,000 people, owing to the geographic spread of the tick populations and the fact that th … Read more
Dr. Mildred Kwan and Dr. Andrew Winslow Receive $100K Pfizer Grant to Address Health Disparities in Antimicrobial Stewardship
The 2-year grant will help build capacity to address health disparities through antimicrobial stewardship telehealth and telemonitoring. The name of the grant is: “A novel patient-led penicillin allergy de-labeling program targeting underserved children through a mobile-enabled virtual platform.” Dr. Kwan is an Allergy & Immunology faculty member in the UNC Thurston Arthritis … Read more
TARC Holds Fifth Annual “Research Day”
Approximately 100 leading researchers and clinicians, research staff and trainees gathered recently to discuss innovative ways to advance research in arthritis, allergy, and autoimmune diseases. Additionally, attendees who couldn’t participate in person attended remotely. Of particular interest this year was keynote speaker and John B. Winfield, MD Visiting Scholar, Ali Ellebedy, … Read more
Department of Medicine Grants & Funding: September 1 – September 30, 2022
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Andrew Moon, MD has received a $200,000 (AASLD) Clinical, Translational and Outcomes Research Award (CTORA) from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases for his grant on “Incorporating the Patient Voice into Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment Models”. Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology Doug Phanstiel, PhD … Read more
A Better Way to Evaluate Penicillin Allergies
On September 28, 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. To commemorate this momentous discovery, every year on September 28th, we celebrate National Penicillin Allergy Day to raise awareness that carrying a penicillin allergy label may negatively affect a patient’s health when it is not accurate. Even though 10% of the U.S. population believes they have a penicillin aller … Read more