Rheumatology

Clinical

Health-related quality of life; outcome research; lupus

Research

Economic analyses; HRQOL; measurement development; outcome research; lupus

Visit the Brunner Lab.

Biography

Hermine Brunner, MD, MSc, MBA, is a pediatric rheumatologist with a special clinical and research interest in pediatric lupus. Her research is focused on biomarker discovery and the testing of new medications for lupus. She is also involved in trial design and provides statistical support at Cincinnati Children's. As head of the Lupus Center, she is involved in the conduction of the Lupus Clinic and the organization of Lupus Support Groups. She also pioneers the development of outcome measures and improving the quality of clinical of children with lupus and other rheumatic diseases.

MD: Ludwig Maximilan University, Munich, Germany, 1991.

Residency: University of Chicago, 1997.

Fellowship: University of Toronto & Cincinnati, 1999.

MSc: Clinical Epidemiology: University of Toronto, 1999.

Certification: Pediatrics 1997; Rheumatology, 2002.

Brunner HI, Silva CA, Reiff A, Higgins GC, Imundo L, Williams CB, Wallace CA, Aikawa NE, Nelson S, Klein-Gitelman MS, Rose SR. Randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation trial of triptorelin for ovary protection in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015 May;67(5):1377-85.

De Benedetti F, Brunner H, Ruperto N, Schneider R, Xavier R, Allen R, Brown DE, Chaitow J, Pardeo M, Espada G, Gerloni V, Myones BL, Frane JW, Wang J, Lipman TH, Bharucha KN, Martini A, Lovell D; Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation and the Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group. Catch-up growth during tocilizumab therapy for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: results from a phase III trial. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015 Mar;67(3):840-8.

Brunner HI, Klein-Gitelman MS, Zelko F, Beebe DW, Foell D, Lee J, Zaal A, Jones J, Roebuck-Spencer T, Ying J. Blood-based candidate biomarkers of the presence of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus in children. Lupus Sci Med. 2014 Nov 5;1(1):e000038.

Brunner HI, Ruperto N, Zuber Z, Keane C, Harari O, Kenwright A, Lu P, Cuttica R, Keltsev V, Xavier RM, Calvo I, Nikishina I, Rubio-Pérez N, Alexeeva E, Chasnyk V, Horneff G, Opoka-Winiarska V, Quartier P, Silva CA, Silverman E, Spindler A, Baildam E, Gámir ML, Martin A, Rietschel C, Siri D, Smolewska E, Lovell D, Martini A, De Benedetti F; Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation PRINTO; Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group (PRCSG). Efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in patients with polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis: results from a phase 3, randomised, double-blind withdrawal trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015 Jun;74(6):1110-7.

Gitelman DR, Klein-Gitelman MS, Ying J, Sagcal-Gironella AC, Zelko F, Beebe DW, Difrancesco M, Parrish T, Hummel J, Beckwith T, Brunner HI. Brain morphometric changes associated with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and neurocognitive deficit. Arthritis Rheum. 2013 Aug;65(8):2190-200.

Hollander MC, Sage JM, Greenler AJ, Pendl J, Avcin T, Espada G, Beresford MW, Henrickson M, Lee TL, Punaro M, Huggins J, Stevens AM, Klein-Gitelman MS, Brunner HI. International consensus for provisions of quality-driven care in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2013 Sep;65(9):1416-23.

Mina R, Klein-Gitelman MS, Nelson S, Eberhard BA, Higgins G, Singer NG, Onel K, Tucker L, O'Neil KM, Punaro M, Levy DM, Haines K, Martini A, Ruperto N, Lovell D, Brunner HI. Validation of the systemic lupus erythematosus responder index for use in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 Feb;73(2):401-6.

Brunner HI, Klein-Gitelman MS, Zelko F, Thomas EC, Hummel J, Nelson SM, Huggins J, Curran ML, Roebuck-Spencer T, Beebe DW, Ying J. Validation of the Pediatric Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis care & research. 2013;65(3):372-81.

Silva CA, Avcin T, Brunner HI. Taxonomy for systemic lupus erythematosus with onset before adulthood. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012 Dec;64(12):1787-93.

Mina R, von Scheven E, Ardoin SP, Eberhard BA, Punaro M, Ilowite N, Hsu J, Klein-Gitelman M, Moorthy LN, Muscal E, Radhakrishna SM, Wagner-Weiner L, Adams M, Blier P, Buckley L, Chalom E, Chédeville G, Eichenfield A, Fish N, Henrickson M, Hersh AO, Hollister R, Jones O, Jung L, Levy D, Lopez-Benitez J, McCurdy D, Miettunen PM, Quintero-del Rio AI, Rothman D, Rullo O, Ruth N, Schanberg LE, Silverman E, Singer NG, Soep J, Syed R, Vogler LB, Yalcindag A, Yildirim-Toruner C, Wallace CA, Brunner HI; Carra SLE Subcommittee. Consensus treatment plans for induction therapy of newly diagnosed proliferative lupus nephritis in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012 Mar;64(3):375-83.

Faculty

Alexei A. Grom, MD

is a pediatric rheumatologist with a special interest in the pathways associated with the development of macrophage activation syndrome, a life-threatening complication of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA). His work includes a strong translational component; along with studying the mechanisms behind these conditions, his lab is researching potential biomarkers that could facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
Visit the Grom-Thornton Lab.

513-636-3339 alexei.grom@cchmc.org

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Alexei A. Grom, MD

Academic Affiliations

Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-636-3339

Fax 513-636-3328

Email alexei.grom@cchmc.org

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Research Interests

Visit the Grom-Thorton Lab.

Biography

The research of Alexei Grom, MD, has mainly involved two translational projects focused on two autoimmune diseases – systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile dermatomyositis. In both projects, recent advances of cellular immunology are applied to these diseases to promote better understanding of their pathogenesis and treatment.

Systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and an associated condition known as macrophage activation syndrome are severe and often devastating illnesses. The pathological mechanisms are not known but Dr. Alexei Grom has focused his research on NK and cytotoxic cell function in this disease. The rationale for this approach has been based on the strong clinical similarities between MAS and the better understood autosomal recessive disorder familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, in which the uncontrolled proliferation of T cells and macrophages has been recently associated with decreased NK cell and cytotoxic cell functions secondary to mutations in the gene encoding perforin. Recent observations suggest as in FHLH, MAS patients also have profoundly depressed NK function. Moreover, a large subgroup of systemic JRA patients has very similar immunologic abnormalities. Combined with the evidence of the immunoregulatory role of NK cells in many immune responses, this suggests that NK dysfunction is relevant to the pathogenesis of MAS. New directions have thus been established for research in this poorly understood disease.

Juvenile dermatomyositis is a chronic inflammatory condition involving primarily muscles and skin. The most characteristic feature of JDM is vascular damage associated with the capillary necrosis that eventually leads to capillary loss and tissue ischemia. The project is based on the hypothesis that capillary loss in this condition may be caused by angiostatic chemokines that are prominent in the inflammatory response in the affected muscles.

MD: Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Pediatric Medical Institute, Russia, 1986.

Residency: Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Medical Institute, Russia, 1988; Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 1998.

Fellowship: Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Pediatric Medical Institute, Russia, 1991; Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 1995.

Certification: Pediatrics, 1999.

De Benedetti F, Brunner HI, Ruperto N, Kenwright, A, Ravelli A, Schneider, Woo P, Wouters C, Zemel, L, Burgos-Vargos R, Dolezalova P, Grom AA, Wulffraat N, Zuber Z, Zulian F, Lovell D, Martini A. Tocilizumab in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a randomized trial. New Engl J Med. 367:2385-95. 2012.

Sikora KA, Fall N, Thornton S and Grom AA. A Markedly Low-Level of Interferon-Induced Gene Expression Distinguishes Active Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Synovium From other JIA subtypes: Implications for Pathogenesis of Macrophage Activation Syndrome. Arthritis Rheum. 64:3799-808. 2012.

Ruperto N, Brunner HI, Quartier P, Constantin T, Wulfraat N, Horneff G, Brik R, McCann L, Nistala K, Wouters C, Cimaz R, Ferrandiz MA, Flato B, Grom AA, Magnusson, Ozen S, Abrams K, Kim D, Martini A, Lovell DJ. Canakinumab in systemic juvenile arthritis with active systemic features. New Engl J Med. 367:2396-406. 2012.

Mellins ED, Macubas C, Grom AA. Pathogenesis of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: some answers, more questions. Nature Reviews Rheumatology. 7:416-26. 2011.

Sumegi J, Barnes MG, Lee S, Villanueva J, Zhang K, Nestheide SV, Risma K, Grom AA, AH Filipovich. Gene Expression Profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with untreated familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Blood. 117:151-60. 2011.

Barnes MG, Grom AA, Thompson SD, Griffin TA, Luyrink LK, Colbert, RA, David N, Glass DN. Biologic similarities based on age at onset in oligoarticular and polyarticular subtypes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2010.

Hinze CH, Fall N, Thornton S, Griffin TA, Thompson SD, Colbert RA, Glass DN, Michael G, Barnes BG, Grom AA. Immature cell populations and an erythropoiesis gene-expression signature in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: implications for pathogenesis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010.

Barnes MG, Grom AA, Thompson SD, Ilowite NT, Olson JC, Sherry DD, Gottlieb BS, Aronow BJ, Pavlidis P, Hinze C, Thornton S, Griffin TA, Colbert CA, DN Glass. Gene Expression Signatures in new onset untreated juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 60:2102-12. 2009.

Zhang K, Biroscak J, Glass DN, Thompson S, Finkel T, Murray P, Binstadt B, Filipovich A, Grom AA. Macrophage activation syndrome in patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis is associated with MUNC13D polymorphisms. Arthritis Rheum. x58:2892-6. 2008.

Fall N, Barnes M, Thornton S, Luyrink L, Olson J, Ilowite NT, Gottlieb E, Griffin T, Sherry DD, Thompson S, Glass DN, Colbert RA, Grom AA. Gene expression profiling in peripheral blood from patients with untreated new-onset systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis reveals molecular heterogeneity that may predict macrophage activation syndrome. Arthritis Rheum. 56:3793-804. 2007.

Michael Henrickson, MD, MPH Director of Telemedicine, Division of Rheumatology

participates in numerous ongoing clinical research trials, as a feature of the Division of Rheumatology's translational research focus.

513-636-4676 michael.henrickson@cchmc.org

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Michael Henrickson, MD, MPH

Director of Telemedicine, Division of Rheumatology

Academic Affiliations

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Professor, University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Phone 513-636-4676

Email michael.henrickson@cchmc.org

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Clinical

Telehealth; health policy; global health; neuropsychiatric-SLE; periodic fever syndromes; systemic JIA; culturally appropriate care.

Research

Ongoing clinical research trials, as a feature of the Division of Rheumatology's translational research focus; telemedicine (tele-rheumatology).

Biography

Dr. Henrickson has an abiding interest in serving as an advocate for his patients to ensure their complete health needs are addressed. He seeks to know the health care priorities of his patients and families and to fulfill them. To provide improved access to care for the limited resource of pediatric rheumatology, a priority for him is the development of telehealth capacity: tele-rheumatology.

BA: magna cum laude, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 1980.

MD: Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 1984.

MPH: College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 2009.

Residency: Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI, 1984-87.

Fellowship: Pediatric Rheumatology, Division of Rheumatology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 1991-94.

Certification: American Board of Pediatrics: General Pediatrics, 1988 (recertified 2014); Pediatric Rheumatology, 1994 (recertified 2008); National Board of Public Health Examiners, 2009.

Weaver KN, El Hallek M, Hopkin RJ, Sund KL, Henrickson M, Del Gaudio D, Yuksel A, Acar GO, Bober MB, Kim J, Boyadjiev SA. Keutel syndrome: report of two novel MGP mutations and discussion of clinical overlap with arylsulfatase E deficiency and relapsing polychondritis. Am J Med Genet A. 2014; 164A(4):1062-8.

Patwardhan A, Henrickson M, Laskosz L, Hong SD, Spencer CH. Current pediatric rheumatology fellowship training in the United States: what fellows actually do. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2014: 12(1):8.

Hollander MC, Sage JM, Greenler AJ, Pendl J, Avcin T, Espada G, Beresford MW, Henrickson M, Lee TL, Punaro M , Huggins J, Stevens AM, Marisa S. Klein-Gitelman MS, Brunner HI. International Consensus for Provisions of Quality-Driven Care in Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2013; 65(9):1416-23.

Mina R, von Scheven E, Ardoin SP, Eberhard BA, Punaro M, Ilowite N, Hsu J, Klein-Gitelman M, Moorthy LN, Muscal E, Radhakrishna SM, Wagner-Weiner L, Adams M, Blier P, Buckley L, Chalom E, Chédeville G, Eichenfield A, Fish N, Henrickson M, Hersh AO, Hollister R, Jones O, Jung L, Levy D, Lopez-Benitez J, McCurdy D, Miettunen PM, Quintero-del Rio AI, Rothman D, Rullo O, Ruth N, Schanberg LE, Silverman E, Singer NG, Soep J, Syed R, Vogler LB, Yalcindag A, Yildirim-Toruner C, Wallace CA, Brunner HI; CARRA SLE Subcommittee. Consensus treatment plans for induction therapy of newly diagnosed proliferative lupus nephritis in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012; 64(3):375-83.

Henrickson M. Policy Challenges for the Pediatric Rheumatology Workforce: Part I. Education and Economics. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2011; 9:23.

Henrickson M. Policy Challenges for the Pediatric Rheumatology Workforce: Part II. Health Care System Delivery and Workforce Supply. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2011; 9:24.

Henrickson M. Policy Challenges for the Pediatric Rheumatology Workforce: Part III. The International Situation. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2011; 9:26.

Lovell DJ, Henrickson M, DeWitt EM, Segerman J, Taylor J, Giannini EH, Passo MH, Beukelman T, Bowyer SL, Gottlieb BS, Ilowite NT, Kimura Y, Stein LD, Vehe RK. Pain as a quality of care measure in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: one step forward, but is it the best foot? Comment on the article by Lovell et al. Reply. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011; 63(9):1353.

Lovell DJ, Passo MH, Beukelman T, Bowyer SL, Gottlieb BS, Henrickson M, Ilowite NT, Kimura Y, Dewitt EM, Segerman J, Stein LD, Taylor J, Vehe RK, Giannini EH. Measuring process of arthritis care. A proposed set of quality measures for the process of care in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011; 63(1):10-16.

Ruperto N, Lovell DJ, Cuttica R, Woo P, Meiorin S, Wouters C, Silverman ED, Balogh Z, Henrickson M, Davidson J, Foeldvari I, Imundo L, Simonini G, Oppermann J, Xu S, Shen YK, Visvanathan S, Fasanmade A, Mendelsohn A, Martini A, Giannini EH; Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO); Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group (PRCSG). Long-term efficacy and safety of infliximab plus methotrexate for the treatment of polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: findings from an open-label treatment extension. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010; 69(4):718-22.

Jennifer L. Huggins, MD Fellowship Program Director, Division of Rheumatology

513-803-0649 jennifer.huggins@cchmc.org

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Jennifer L. Huggins, MD

Fellowship Program Director, Division of Rheumatology

Academic Affiliations

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-803-0649

Email jennifer.huggins@cchmc.org

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Biography

Dr. Huggins is board certified in pediatrics, internal medicine, allergy/immunology, pediatric and adult rheumatology. She was a primary care provider for internal medicine/pediatrics for 12 years before entering fellowship training for allergy/immunology/rheumatology. As a result of her primary care experience she is aware of the importance and complexities of vaccine administration. In addition to her responsibilities as the Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship program director, she cares for a significant number of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as well as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the division. Her current caseload includes over 70% of the SLE patients at Cincinnati Children’s. Dr. Huggins has already begun a pilot quality improvement project on improving the administration of appropriate pneumococcal vaccination in our SLE patients. This project builds logically on her previous primary care experience and current clinical work, and commitment to improving vaccination protection for immunocompromised patients.

MD: University of Kansas Medical School, Kansas City, KS.

Residency: Baylor College of Medicine, 1986.

Fellowship: Allergy/Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, 2005.

Fellowship: Pediatric Rheumatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 2007.

Daniel J. Lovell, MD, MPH Associate Director, Division of Rheumatology

focuses on the performance of interventional clinical trials in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and other rheumatic diseases. He has served as the PI for >30 multicenter, interventional trials in JIA. Dr. Lovell is also involved in the development and validation of outcome measures and clinical response definitions for JIA, JDM and childhood onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

513-636-4676 daniel.lovell@cchmc.org

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Daniel J. Lovell, MD, MPH

Associate Director, Division of Rheumatology

Academic Affiliations

Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-636-4676

Fax 513-636-5990

Email daniel.lovell@cchmc.org

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Clinical

Diagnostic evaluation and ongoing care of children with all pediatric onset rheumatic diseases

Research

Performance of clinical trials in children with rheumatic diseases; clinical trials methodology; mentoring of junior faculty

MD: University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, 1978.

MPH: University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, 1982.

Residency: Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, KS.

Fellowship: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

Certification: Pediatrics, 1984; Pediatric Rheumatology, 1992.

Lovell DJ, Passo MH, Beukelman T, Bowyer SL, Gottlieb BS, Henrickson M, Ilowite NT, Kimura Y, DeWitt EM, Segerman J, Stein LD, Taylor J, Vehe RK, Giannini EH. Measuring process of arthritis care: a proposed set of quality measures for the process of care in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011 Jan;63(1):10-6.

Giannini EH, Ilowite NT, Lovell DJ, Wallace CA, Rabinovich CE, Reiff A, Higgins G, Gottlieb B, Chon Y, Zhang N, Baumgartner SW. Effects of long-term etanercept treatment on growth in children with selected categories of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Nov;62(11):3259-64.

Giannini EH, Ilowite NT, Lovell DJ, Wallace CA, Rabinovich CE, Reiff A, Higgins G, Gottlieb B, Singer NG, Chon Y, Lin SL, Baumgartner SW; Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group. Long-term safety and effectiveness of etanercept in children with selected categories of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Sep;60(9):2794-804.

Seid M, Opipari L, Huang B, Brunner HI, Lovell DJ. Disease control and health-related quality of life in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Mar 15;61(3):393-9.

Carrasco R, Lovell DJ, Giannini EH, Henderson CJ, Huang B, Kramer S, Ranz J, Heubi J, Glass D. Biochemical markers of bone turnover associated with calcium supplementation in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2008 Dec;58(12):3932-40.

Lovell DJ, Ruperto N, Goodman S, Reiff A, Jung L, Jarosova K, Nemcova D, Mouy R, Sandborg C, Bohnsack J, Elewaut D, Foeldvari I, Gerloni V, Rovensky J, Minden K, Vehe RK, Weiner LW, Horneff G, Huppertz HI, Olson NY, Medich JR, Carcereri-De-Prati R, McIlraith MJ, Giannini EH, Martini A; Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group; Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation. Adalimumab with or without methotrexate in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med. 2008 Aug 21;359(8):810-20.

Ting TV, Lovell DJ. Does early sulfasalazine treatment provide long-term benefits to patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis? Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol. 2008 Jul;4(7):344-5.

Lovell DJ, Reiff A, Ilowite NT, Wallace CA, Chon Y, Lin SL, Baumgartner SW, Giannini EH; Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group. Safety and efficacy of up to eight years of continuous etanercept therapy in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2008 May;58(5):1496-504.

Shishov M, Henrickson M, Burgos-Vargas R, Rubio-Pérez N, Baca V, Romero-Feregrino R, Solís-Vallejo E, Huang B, Grom AA, Lovell DJ. Systemic features and early prognostic factors in Hispanic and non-Hispanic children from the United States of America and Mexico with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2007 Nov-Dec;25(6):907-14.

Lovell DJ. Update on treatment of arthritis in children: new treatments, new goals. Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis. 2006;64(1-2):72-6. Review.

Esi M. Morgan, MD, MSCE

focuses on the development and validation of patient reported outcomes measures using modern psychometric approaches, including item response theory, for improved health assessment in children. A second major research focus concerns improving clinical outcomes of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis through the science of quality improvement.

513-636-4676 esi.morgan_dewitt@cchmc.org

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Esi M. Morgan, MD, MSCE

Academic Affiliations

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-636-4676

Email esi.morgan_dewitt@cchmc.org

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Clinical

Childhood rheumatic diseases; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; juvenile dermatomyositis; sarcoidosis

Research

Patient reported outcomes measure development; quality Improvement; health services research; economic evaluations; comparative effectiveness

Biography

Esi Morgan, MD, MSCE, is a pediatric rheumatologist and researcher. Clinical care spans the childhood rheumatic diseases, with focus on juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and juvenile dermatomyositis.

Her research training and experience includes epidemiology and health services research, in addition to specialization in quality improvement methods and application to improve health care delivery. Dr. Morgan leads a research project to develop new measures to assess pain in children and youth, as well as to validate measures of health related quality of life in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis or chronic pain as part of a national network of investigators.

Dr. Morgan is a leader in a multi-center quality improvement network to improve the outcome of care in children with JIA, the Pediatric-Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network. Additionally, she has served on expert panels in development of JIA treatment recommendations and measures of quality of care in treatment of JIA.

MD: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 1999.

Residency: Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 2002.

Fellowship: Rheumatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 2005.

MSCE: University of Pennsylvania, Center for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Philadelphia, PA, 2005.

Certification: Pediatrics, 2002; Pediatric Rheumatology, 2006.

Dewitt EM, Stucky BD, Thissen D, Irwin DE, Langer M, Varni JW, Lai JS, Yeatts KB, Dewalt DA. Construction of the eight-item patient-reported outcomes measurement information system pediatric physical function scales: built using item response theory. J Clin Epidemiol. 2011 Jul;64(7):794-804.

Beukelman T, Patkar NM, Saag KG, Tolleson-Rinehart S, Cron RQ, DeWitt EM, et al. American College of Rheumatology recommendations for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: initiation and safety monitoring of therapeutic agents for the treatment of arthritis and systemic features. Arthritis Care Res. 2011 Apr;63(4):465-82.

Dinan MA, Compton KL, Dhillon JK, Hammill BG, Dewitt EM, Weinfurt KP, Schulman KA. Use of patient-reported outcomes in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Med Care. 2011 Apr;49(4):415-9.

Lovell DJ, Passo MH, Beukelman T, Bowyer SL, Gottlieb BS, Henrickson M, Ilowite NT, Kimura Y, DeWitt EM, Segerman J, Stein LD, Taylor J, Vehe RK, Giannini EH. Measuring process of arthritis care: a proposed set of quality measures for the process of care in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011 Jan;63(1):10-6.

Varni JW, Stucky BD, Thissen D, Dewitt EM, Irwin DE, Lai JS, Yeatts K, Dewalt DA. PROMIS Pediatric Pain Interference Scale: An item response theory analysis of the Pediatric Pain Item Bank. J Pain. 2010 Nov;11(11):1109-19.

Irwin DE, Stucky BD, Thissen D, Dewitt EM, Lai JS, Yeatts K, Varni JW, DeWalt DA. Sampling plan and patient characteristics of the PROMIS pediatrics large – scale survey. Qual Life Res. 2010 May;19(4):585-94.

DeWitt EM, Lin L, Glick HA, Anstrom KJ, Schulman KA, Reed SD. Pattern and predictors of the initiation of biologic agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the United States: an analysis using a large observational data bank. Clin Ther. 2009 Aug; 31(8):1871-80; discussion 1858.

Morgan DeWitt E, Glick HA, Albert DA, Joffe M, Wolfe F. Medicare coverage of tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors as an influence on physicians’ prescribing behavior. Arch of Intern Med. 2006;166:57-63.

Book Chapters

DeWitt EM, Schanberg LE, Rabinovich CE. Treatment of Rheumatic Diseases. In RM Kleigman, BM Stanton, J St. Geme, N Schor, RE Behrman (Eds.), Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Elsevier Saunders: Philadelphia, PA, 2011.

Wu EY, DeWitt, EM. Sarcoidosis. In RM Kleigman, BM Stanton, J St. Geme, N Schor, RE Behrman (Eds.), Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics.19th ed. Elsevier Saunders: Philadelphia, PA, 2011.

Grant Schulert, MD, PhD

is focused on mechanisms of innate immunity and inflammation, specifically as they relate to rheumatic diseases in children. In particular he investigates the function and regulation of monocytes and macrophages during systemic inflammation. He also focuses on use of genomic approaches to define the risk for systemic inflammatory diseases

513-636-4676 grant.schulert@cchmc.org

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Grant Schulert, MD, PhD

Academic Affiliations

Instructor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-636-4676

Email grant.schulert@cchmc.org

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Clinical

Pediatric rheumatology; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; macrophage activation syndrome; autoinflammatory syndromes; periodic fevers

Research

Systemic JIA; macrophage activation syndrome; innate immunity; monocyte and macrophage functions; whole exome sequencing

MD: University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 2009.

PhD: University of Iowa Department of Microbiology, Iowa City, IA, 2009.

Residency: Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.

Fellowship: Pediatric Rheumatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.

Certification: Pediatrics, 2012.

Bracaglia C, de Graaf K, Marafon DP, D’Ario G, Guilhot F, Ferlin W, Prencipe G, Caiello I, Davi S, Schulert G, Ravelli A, Grom A, De Min C, De Benedetti F. Elevated circulating levels of interferon-gamma and interferon-gamma related chemokines characterize patients with macrophage activation syndrome complicating systemic JIA. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016.

Schulert GS, Fall N, Harley J, Shen N, Lovell DJ, Thornton S, Grom AA. Monocyte microRNA expression in active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis reveals key role of miR-125a-5p in polarized monocyte phenotypes. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2016;68:2300-2313.

Favier LA, Schulert GS. Mevalonate kinase deficiency – current perspectives. App Clin Genet. 2016;9:93-100.

Schulert GS, Grom AA. Pathogenesis of macrophage activation syndrome and potential for cytokine- directed therapies. Annu Rev Med. 2015;66:145-59.

Schulert GS, Zhang M, Fall N, Husami A, Kissell D, Hanosh A, Zhang K, Davis K, Jentzen JM, Napolitano L, Siddiqui J, Smith LB, Harms PW, Grom AA, Cron RQ. Whole-Exome Sequencing Reveals Mutations in Genes Linked to Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Macrophage Activation Syndrome in Fatal Cases of H1N1 Influenza. J Infect Dis. 2015 Nov 23.

Schulert GS, Bove K, McMasters R, Campbell K, Leslie N, Grom AA. 11-Month-Old Infant With Periodic Fevers, Recurrent Liver Dysfunction, and Perforin Gene Polymorphism. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2015 Aug;67(8):1173-9.

Schulert GS, Graham TB. Chronic inflammatory arthritis of the ankle/hindfoot/midfoot complex in children with extreme obesity. J Clin Rheumatol. 2014 Sep;20(6):317-21.

Schulert GS, McCaffrey RL, Buchan BW, Lindemann SR, Hollenback C, Jones BD, Allen LA. Francisella tularensis genes required for inhibition of the neutrophil respiratory burst and intramacrophage growth identified by random transposon mutagenesis of strain LVS. Infect Immun. 2009 Apr;77(4):1324-36.

Schulert GS, Allen LA. Differential infection of mononuclear phagocytes by Francisella tularensis: role of the macrophage mannose receptor. J Leukoc Biol. 2006 Sep;80(3):563-71.

Schulert GS, Feltman H, Rabin SD, Martin CG, Battle SE, Rello J, Hauser AR. Secretion of the toxin ExoU is a marker for highly virulent Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates obtained from patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia. J Infect Dis. 2003 Dec 1;188(11):1695-706. Epub 2003 Nov 21.

Grants

Monocyte and macrophage polarization in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and macrophage activation syndrome. Principal Investigator. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Procter Scholar Award. Jul 2016-Jun 2018.

Contribution of microRNA to aberrant monocyte activation and polarization in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Principal Investigator. Rheumatology Research Foundation. Jul 2015-Jun 2017.

Sherry L. Thornton, PhD

her research focuses on finding and functionally evaluating targets for the treatment of rheumatic disease, with a particular interest in the role of angiogenesis in human arthritis and animal models of arthritis. A second interest is the use of reagents to label inflammatory cells for visualization during arthritis as a potential clinical tool, and for evaluation of cell types during the course of disease in animal models.
Visit the Grom/Thornton Lab.

513-636-1318 sherry.thornton@cchmc.org

High Res

Sherry L. Thornton, PhD

Academic Affiliation

Field Service Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-636-1318

Fax 513-636-3328

Email sherry.thornton@cchmc.org

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Research Interests

Visit the Grom-Thornton Lab.

Evaluating targets for the treatment of rheumatic disease; angiogenesis; animal models of arthritis

BS: Ball State University, Muncie, IN.

PhD: University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.

Hinze CH, Fall N, Thornton S, Mo JQ, Aronow BJ, Layh-Schmitt G, Griffin TA, Thompson SD, Colbert RA, Glass DN, Barnes MG, Grom AA. Immature cell populations and an erythropoiesis gene-expression signature in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: implications for pathogenesis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(3):R123.

Griffin TA, Barnes MG, Ilowite NT, Olson JC, Sherry DD, Gottlieb BS, Aronow BJ, Pavlidis P, Hinze CH, Thornton S, Thompson SD, Grom AA, Colbert RA, Glass DN. Gene expression signatures in polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis demonstrate disease heterogeneity and offer a molecular classification of disease subsets. Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Jul;60(7):2113-23.

Fall N, Barnes M, Thornton S, Luyrink L, Olson J, Ilowite NT, Gottlieb BS, Griffin T, Sherry DD, Thompson S, Glass DN, Colbert RA, Grom AA. Gene expression profiling of peripheral blood from patients with untreated new-onset systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis reveals molecular heterogeneity that may predict macrophage activation syndrome. Arthritis Rheum. 2007 Nov;56(11):3793-804.

Flick MJ, LaJeunesse CM, Talmage KE, Witte DP, Palumbo JS, Pinkerton MD, Thornton S, Degen JL. Fibrin(ogen) exacerbates inflammatory joint disease through a mechanism linked to the integrin alphaMbeta2 binding motif. J Clin Invest. 2007 Nov;117(11):3224-35.

Fall N, Bove KE, Stringer K, Lovell DJ, Brunner HI, Weiss J, Higgins GC, Bowyer SL, Graham TB, Thornton S, Grom AA. Association between lack of angiogenic response in muscle tissue and high expression of angiostatic ELR-negative CXC chemokines in patients with juvenile dermatomyositis: possible link to vasculopathy. Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Oct;52(10):3175-80.

Carey B, DeLay M, Strasser JE, Chalk C, Dudley-McClain K, Milligan GN, Brunner HI, Thornton S, Hirsch R. A soluble divalent class I MHC/IgG1 fusion protein activates CD8+ T cells in vivo. Clin Immunol. 2005 Jul;116(1):65-76.

Huang P, Farkas T, Zhong W, Tan M, Thornton S, Morrow AL, Jiang X. Norovirus and histo-blood group antigens: demonstration of a wide spectrum of strain specificities and classification of two major binding groups among multiple binding patterns. J Virol. 2005 Jun;79(11):6714-22.

Hermann LM, Pinkerton M, Jennings K, Yang L, Grom A, Sowders D, Kersten S, Witte DP, Hirsch R, Thornton S. Angiopoietin-like-4 is a potential angiogenic mediator in arthritis. Clin Immunol. 2005 Apr;115(1):93-101.

Katakura S, Jennings K, Watanabe S, Adachi E, Thornton S, Gao GP, Wilson JM, Burstein H, Trapnell B, Hirsch R. Recombinant adeno-associated virus preferentially transduces human, compared to mouse, synovium: implications for arthritis therapy. Mod Rheumatol. 2004;14(1):18-24.

Tracy V. Ting, MD, MSc, RhMSUS

513-636-4676

High Res

Tracy V. Ting, MD, MSc, RhMSUS

Academic Affiliations

Assistant Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-636-4676

Fax 513-636-5568

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Clinical Interests

Fibromyalgia; joint hypermobility; juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA); systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

MD: West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 2002.

Residency: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 2005.

Certification: Pediatrics, 2005; Pediatric Rheumatology, 2011.