Research Focus

Immunology & Infectious Diseases

Area of Research

Diagnostic and disease activity assessment in primary vasculitis and polymyalgia. Focus on quantitative imaging and biomarker.
Pathogenesis, epidemiology and outcome of gout.
Young patients with rheumatic diseases in between pediatric and adult care.

• Imaging and biomarker studies in patients of the local giant cell arteritis cohort (local grants)
• Implementation and validation of a structured transition program for adolescent patients with rheumatic diseases (Palatin Stiftung, GGG)
• A structured nurse led patient management program to improve outcomes in gout: A randomized controlled trial (Hedwig Widmer Stiftung)
• Longitundal imaging in patients with large vessel vasculitis to predict further disease course (Schweizer Stiftung für die Erforschung der Muskelerkrankungen)
• Prevalence and risk factors for large vessel inflammation in patients with polymyalgia (Schweizer Stiftung für die Erforschung der Muskelerkrankungen)

National Collaborations

• Local DBM Group PD Dr. Berger, Institute of Pharmacy Uni Basel Prof Alex Odermatt
• SCQM
• VASAS

International Collaborations

• European group for Vasculitis research (EUVAS)
• Diagnosis and classification of vasculitides study (DCVAS)
• EBMT
• OMERACT group for imaging in GCA

A prospective randomized study to evaluate a nurse led program for gout patients-ongoing (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03345186).

Project Title: Longitudinal imaging in patients with large vessel vasculitis to predict further disease course-ongoing https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04204876

Subclinical vasculitis in patients with new onset polymyalgia: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis-submitted for publication (doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/749RY).

Comparing PMR, GCA and control patients in respect to diagnostic findings-a retrospective local cohort study