Awards, Endowments, & Achievements
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Center
Department of Medicine, UAB, Birmingham
About the Division
The Division of Clinical Immunology and
Rheumatology is internationally-recognized and dedicated to pursuing new
knowledge and translating research findings into more effective
diagnosis and treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases. As one of
the largest academic rheumatology units in the nation, the Division’s
clinical program registers over 20,000 patient encounters annually,
evaluating and treating patients with various forms of connective tissue
disease including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus,
scleroderma, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, vasculitis (Wegener's
granulomatosis, etc.), fibromyalgia, and osteoporosis. This service is
conducted in our outpatient clinics at the Kirklin Clinic at UAB, the
Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Cooper Green Hospital,
the Children's Hospital of Alabama, as well as in the inpatient clinical
services of UAB Hospital.
In each of the past 13 years, UAB’s Division of Clinical Immunology and
Rheumatology has been ranked as the University’s most highly regarded
clinical program, currently sixth in the nation according to the U.S.
News and World Report. Seven of the Division faculty (Drs. Bridges,
Chatham, Heck, Kimberly, Koopman, Moreland, and Saag) have also been
recognized in the latest edition of “Top Doctors in the USA.”
The Division’s clinical investigations assess the immunogenetic and
natural histories of several rheumatic diseases. Studies also involve
the evaluation of new drugs and biologics for treating rheumatic
diseases, bone physiology in the rheumatic diseases, functional
evaluation of the host immune status in various rheumatic diseases, and
the role of genetic and psychosocial factors in the outcome of patients
with rheumatic disease. The Arthritis Clinical Intervention Program (Dr.
Moreland, Director) and the UAB Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment
Clinic play crucial roles in these translational research programs.
Complementing clinical investigations, the Division has an extensive,
interdisciplinary program in many areas of fundamental investigation.
These include apoptosis, cellular immunology, transgenic models of
autoimmunity, cell surface antigens, complement chemistry and biology,
and mediators of inflammation and autoimmunity. Division laboratories
are fully equipped for experimental work in protein chemistry, molecular
biology, and cell biology.
In addition to its outstanding commitment to clinical practice and
research, the Division serves as an academic locus for the training of
future researchers and clinicians, as well as the general public. The
Division’s highly competitive Training Program in Rheumatic Disease
Research sponsors the instruction of several Pre- and Post-doctoral
fellows, most of whom continue fundamental and clinical research
careers. The ACGME-accredited Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program
provides for clinical practice and fundamental research experience,
leading to eligibility for the American Board of Internal Medicine’s
certification examination in rheumatology. The Center for Education
Research in Therapeutics (CERTs) in Musculoskeletal Diseases evaluates
the effectiveness, safety, impact on health, and related quality of life
of therapeutics used in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. It
educates practitioners, insurers, policy makers, and the general public,
combining the substantial clinical and health services research
expertise of UAB with consultants and private sector partners.
The 150 faculty and staff members of the Division have over 100 active
extramural grants and contracts, with a funding total of approximately
$35 million annually. These include multiple Center and Program Project
Grants, R01s, VA Merit and NIH contract-based mechanisms.