Robert A. Lafyatis, MD

Adjunct Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Lafyatis carries out patient oriented research into the cause and treatment of systemic sclerosis. This includes early phase clinical trials into new therapeutic agents in patients with systemic sclerosis. He has been investigating the mechanisms of actions and markers of response for novel therapeutics, such as the B cell depleting agent, rituximab and the immunosuppressant agent, mycophenlate. Additional studies are aimed at identifying biomarkers in systemic sclerosis using microarray gene expression analysis of skin and blood in scleroderma patients. Ongoing biomarker studies include investigation into molecular markers of pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis. Dr. Lafyatis also carries out basic research into the cause of fibrosis and vasculopathy in systemic sclerosis using patient samples and murine disease models. His studies have provided key insights into one widely used model of systemic sclerosis, the tight skin mouse. His studies are currently focused on understanding how autoimmunity and the innate immune system lead to fibrosis and vascular damage. This has recently led to the discovery of increased interferon-regulated gene expression in white blood cells of patients with systemic sclerosis. Ongoing research is aimed at better understanding the cause of altered gene expression by monocytes and other cells in the innate immune system.

Publications

  • Published 9/10/2026

    Mirizio E, Werner G, Hutchins T, Sanyal A, Esencan D, Tabib T, Chen W, Lafyatis R, Jacobe H, Torok KS. T-follicular helper cell communication with myeloid compartments plays a key role in the inflammatory response in localized scleroderma: Insights from skin single-cell RNA sequencing. J Invest Dermatol. 2026 Sep 10. PMID: 42716215.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/22/2026

    Tabib T, Ezenwa O, Sciurba J, Valenzi EB, Sembrat J, Cody B, Das J, Lafyatis R, Ascherman DP. Comparative Transcriptional Profiling of Key Macrophage and Fibroblast Subpopulations in Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Lung Disease. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2026 Jun 22. PMID: 42328894.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/17/2026

    Torok KS, Horvei P, Li J, Rosser F, Alexander JL, Rose-Felker K, Sood V, Olson A, Hogue N, Vandergrift V, Stanczak H, Miglioretti M, Farver L, Koster W, Mcguire D, Havrilla H, McIntyre S, Domsic RT, Lafyatis RA, Szabolcs P. Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for Refractory juvenile-onset systemic sclerosis (JSSc). Ann Rheum Dis. 2026 Jun 17. PMID: 42309868.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/30/2026

    Trbojevic S, Dong X, Lafyatis R, Gold MS, Taboas JM, Almarza AJ. Single-cell RNA sequencing of healthy and diseased rat temporomandibular joint condyle cartilage. PLoS One. 2026; 21(4):e0348175. PMID: 42060618.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/22/2026

    Behera R, Zhou Y, Gerges PH, Fan J, Tabib T, Gaydosik AM, Huang M, Das J, Pachera E, Hukara A, Tang Y, Renoux F, Tai M, Distler O, Kania G, Chan SY, Singh H, Valenzi E, Lafyatis R. FOSL2 regulates endothelial cell state and chromatin accessibility in systemic sclerosis pulmonary vascular remodeling. JCI Insight. 2026 Apr 22; 11(8). PMID: 42018656.

    Read at: PubMed

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Other Positions

  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
    Boston University

Websites

Education

  • University of Cincinnati, MD
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology, BS

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